Until the emergence of COVID-19, the bacterium that causes TB was described as “the most destructive pathogen on the planet.” Despite being preventable, treatable, and curable, this ancient disease persists, resurges, and continues to take a global toll. While in 2021, there were incipient signs of recovery from COVID-19’s impact, global TB cases and deaths still increased, with an estimated 10.6 million people falling ill with TB, and 1.57 million people dying.
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