U.N.: Tuberculosis Not Disease of the Past

Mar 22, 03:43 PM

Current Headlines: In advance of World Tuberculosis Day, a United Nations special envoy called for more medical research to eliminate the disease.

It is absolutely essential that more knowledge about tuberculosis is given out to the public, said former Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio, the secretary-general's special envoy to stop tuberculosis.

Though the disease is treatable, many who have tuberculosis do not have access to drugs, Sampaio said, and the world faces scary situations with new strains which are extremely (drug) resistant.

The disease, often considered a malady of the past, kills an estimated 5,000 people worldwide each day.

More research is needed to combat these resistant strains and fight the growing number of cases fueled by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, Sampaio said.

In a report released Thursday, the World Health Organization offered a mixed picture on the global tuberculosis situation.

The percentage of the world's population infected with tuberculosis has leveled off, the report says, but these gains are being offset by obstacles such as HIV, the spread of drug-resistant strains and the absence of adequate funding.