Think of an iceberg. What you see above the surface is just a hint of what lies beneath. Most of its mass is hidden below the waterline, unseen, but no less dangerous.
That's exactly how tuberculosis (TB) works. What's visible, the active, contagious cases, we hear about are just the tip. Below the surface lies something bigger: latent TB, quietly affecting about 1 in 4 people worldwide, most of whom don't even know they carry it.
What makes TB so dangerous?
TB is a bacterial infection that spreads through the air. You can catch it by simply being near someone who's sick. In 5–10% of latent TB cases1, it may suddenly become active, especially when the immune system is weakened. And once active, TB can spread. Just one untreated person can infect up to 15 others in a year.
In recent years, only COVID-19 has caused more deaths than tuberculosis, a stark reminder of how dangerous and overlooked this disease remains. In 2023, TB once again became the world's deadliest infectious disease, claiming 1.25 million lives2, including COVID-19. Yet for most of us, it barely makes the news.
A disease that deepens vulnerability
TB isn't just a medical issue it's an economic one. In 2023, half of TB-affected families faced catastrophic healthcare costs.
The disease thrives in communities where access to care is limited, and poverty and illness reinforce each other in a vicious cycle. It's especially dangerous for people living with HIV, who are far more likely to progress from latent to active TB. And standard tests often fail in these cases, as weakened immune systems can't mount a strong response.
Smarter tools for smarter prevention
Here's the good news: we are not fighting blindly anymore. Advanced testing can now detect latent TB even in people with compromised immune systems, something other tests often miss.
Tests like our T-SPOT.TB have already helped screen 20 million people worldwide, helping stop the spread before it starts. But prevention only works if screening for latent TB can reach the people who need it most.
There's even more hope on the horizon: six new TB vaccines are in advanced clinical trials. By 2028 they could offer stronger, longer-lasting protection than the century-old BCG vaccine.
Why it matters
TB isn't gone. It's not rare. And it's not someone else's problem. It's the slow-moving pandemic still killing over a million people a year.
But here's the good news: we know what works, more testing, better diagnostics, smarter prevention and wider access to care.
Progress is possible, from 2022 to 2023, TB deaths dropped by 5.4%3. But only if we keep testing.
Bridging the gap from research and discovery to diagnostics and cure. Challenge accepted.
For in vitro diagnostic use. This product is only available where licensed in accordance with the law. Please contact your local representative for availability.
References
- World Health Organization. The End TB Strategy. Geneva; 2014. https://www.who.int/teams/global-tuberculosisprogramme/theend-tb-strategy. Accessed: 2-AUG-23
- Global tuberculosis report 2024. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2023. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
- https://www.paho.org/en/news/1-11-2023-tuberculosis-resurges-top-infectious-disease-killer
