Tuberculosis remains one of world's deadliest diseases, but hope for vaccine rises

Clinical lead doctor Al Story points to an X-ray showing a pair of lungs infected with tuberculosis in London, on Jan 27, 2014. [Reuters]

Global cases of tuberculosis also known as TB continued to rise last year as disruption to health services caused by the Covid-19 pandemic set back efforts to fight the disease, according to the latest report from the World Health Organization.

Tuberculosis, an infectious disease that usually attacks the lungs, is both preventable and curable. It caused an estimated 1.3 million deaths in 2022 - a 19 per cent drop from the year before, said the annual WHO report published last week.