[Media Watch] Taking on the silent killer

Tuberculosis (TB), despite its severity, rarely makes headlines. Nevertheless, it remains the deadliest infectious disease globally. According to the Global Tuberculosis Report 2025, an estimated 10.7 million people worldwide fell ill with tuberculosis in 2024. In the same year, 1.23 million individuals died from the disease. The report also states that, at country level, important drivers of the tuberculosis incidence rate include undernutrition, per capita income, smoking, diabetes, and HIV infection. These factors contribute to the spread and severity of the disease.