10 facts about tuberculosis

WHO/Gary Hampton

23 March 2009

More than two billion people – one third of the world’s total population – are infected with TB bacilli, the microbes that cause TB.

One in every 10 of those people will become sick with active TB in his or her lifetime. People living with HIV are at a much greater risk.

WHO aims to reach all patients through health systems and primary health care and is working with other agencies to achieve the target under the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).

10 facts about tuberculosis

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