Lessons from John Green on why this deadly disease should matter to you, your community and the world
By Briana Ferrigno, President, McCann Global Health
Tuberculosis—the infectious bacterial disease that primarily affects the lungs but can spread to other organs—claimed 1.2 million lives last year. That number is on the rise despite popular thinking that tuberculosis is a thing of the past or happening somewhere else, but not here.
But tuberculosis is here. It’s the world’s deadliest infectious disease and continues to be so, even though we have had the tools to treat it for 70 years. TB spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, making it highly contagious—especially in crowded or poorly ventilated spaces. While anyone can get TB, it disproportionately affects those with weakened immune systems, including people living with HIV, those experiencing malnutrition and individuals in low-income or high-density living conditions.
In the United States, we are in the middle of a tuberculosis outbreak in Kansas, with 68 cases confirmed—one of the largest U.S. outbreaks in recent history. This number pales in comparison to the nearly 10 million people who will get sick this year from TB globally. Meanwhile, funding for tuberculosis treatment from the U.S. government has been put on hold—meaning that millions of people relying on consistent TB treatment (required for the drugs to work) will no longer have access. This puts their survival at serious risk and increases the likelihood of new, treatment-resistant strains of tuberculosis emerging.
A New York Times report indicates that a staggering number of tuberculosis patients have been abruptly cut off from vital medications and diagnostic services due to funding disruptions. A recent USAID assessment warns that cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis could surge by nearly 30 percent in the coming years, marking a severe setback in the global effort to control the disease.
As John Green, author of the book "Everything is Tuberculosis," argues, the problem isn’t TB; the problem is us. We know how to diagnose, treat and prevent tuberculosis, but we have not prioritized the resources to do so. Right now, people who rely on a strict four- to six-month course of antibiotics face the terrifying prospect of treatment interruptions. When TB is left untreated or improperly managed, drug-resistant strains emerge—strains that do not recognize borders and threaten global health security.
So what do we do when we know that the problem looms large, both in the U.S. and in low- and middle-income countries? According to Green, there are several actions, including:
1. Close the empathy gap
Tuberculosis disproportionately affects the world’s most vulnerable populations—those living in poverty, in overcrowded conditions and with limited access to healthcare. When people don’t see tuberculosis in their daily lives, it becomes easy to ignore. But TB doesn’t need a passport. A case in Kansas or California has the potential to spread anywhere. By acknowledging that TB is not a disease of "somewhere else" but rather a shared global crisis, we can begin to build the collective will needed to act.
2. Access is paramount
Treatment for tuberculosis is long, difficult and requires strict adherence to antibiotics for months. Interruptions in treatment can cause TB to become drug-resistant, making it significantly harder—and more expensive—to treat. Governments and global health organizations must prioritize consistent, widespread access to TB medications. This means pushing for the reinstatement of funding for TB programs, supporting the Global Fund’s efforts and ensuring that new treatments reach those who need them most.
3. Your voice matters
Public awareness and advocacy can drive real change. John Green has used his platform to highlight the TB crisis, and individuals can do the same by contacting elected officials, supporting organizations fighting TB and spreading awareness. If TB were as widely recognized as COVID-19, cuts to funding and prevention programs would be unacceptable. Our voices can help bring attention to a disease that thrives in the shadows.
The time to act is now
We are at a critical moment. TB is not a relic of the past—it is a present and growing crisis. We have the knowledge, tools and medicine to fight it. What we need now is collective action to ensure that treatment reaches everyone, everywhere. Because until TB is no longer everyone’s problem, everything is tuberculosis.
