Tuberculosis

Description

In partnership with private and public donors, tuberculosis (TB) funding supports interventions that prevent, detect, and cure tuberculosis—an airborne, bacterial disease.

Use of Funds

Funds support efforts to prevent and treat TB and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) through enhanced screening, diagnosis, infection control, healthcare training, technical assistance, and research into new TB treatments. The U.S. works in 23 priority countries and provides targeted technical assistance to an additional 32 countries to build the capacity for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment services for millions of people affected by TB and MDR-TB.

Justification

• TB is preventable, treatable, and curable, yet is the second-highest infectious killer globally, after COVID-19, with an estimated 6 million people falling ill and 1.7 million deaths in 2021.
• In 2021 treatment coverage decreased by 52%, meaning half of the people with TB did not get diagnosed or treated.
• According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one dollar invested toward TB prevention yields more than 40 dollars in return.
• One person with active, untreated TB can spread the disease to as many as 15 to 20 other people in a year.
• Investments save lives. Since 2000, in USAID’s priority countries, the incidence of TB has decreased by 25% and mortality decreased by 41%.