Advanced AI can now end global TB crisis

Tuberculosis (TB) is the second deadliest infectious killer, after COVID-19, which claimed 1.5 million lives in 2020 but is now largely under control. Meanwhile, multi-drug-resistant TB remains a public health crisis and a health security threat. The World Health Organization confirms that the COVID-19 pandemic could start to unravel years of progress in the fight against tuberculosis. This is largely a result of disruption to access to TB services and a drop in resources, which has led to a fall in the detection of new cases. Due to restricted access to diagnostics and lockdowns imposed to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, 4.1 million cases went undiagnosed. India was the worst (41%) with Indonesia (14%) and the Philippines (12%) following next.