Controlling the Global TB Epidemic
A quarter of the world’s population – nearly 2 billion people – are infected with the TB bacteria, and approximately 10 million people become ill each year with the disease. Although it is preventable and treatable, TB remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases, taking the lives of 4,100 people each day.
As a global community, we have made tremendous progress in ending TB, but challenges remain. Populations most vulnerable to TB, including children, pregnant women, people living with HIV, miners, and healthcare workers, are often missed by health systems and do not receive the care they need. Drug-resistant TB is a growing threat and poses another serious challenge to controlling the spread of TB worldwide.
CDC’s Division of Global HIV & TB (DGHT) is on the frontlines in more than 25 countries with high TB prevalence and working to sustain efforts by partner governments to find, cure, and prevent TB. CDC’s global TB response efforts help to ensure a safer America and a safer world.
These same platforms are being leveraged in the fight against COVID-19.
Key Facts
The latest statistics showing the burden of TB globally and the progress made to date

A fourth of the world’s population – nearly 2 billion people – are infected with TB

More than 500,000 cases of multidrug-resistant TB are reported each year

Global efforts have saved more than 50 million lives between 2000 and 2017

Efforts to end TB are one of the best investments – yielding $43 for each $1 invested
Feature Stories
Learn how CDC and partners address historic gaps in TB treatment and prevention activities.
Videos
Learn more about CDC’s data-driven efforts to find, cure, and prevent TB around the world in the videos below.
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TB and HIVGlobally, TB/HIV coinfection is a serious public health threat. CDC is working to significantly increase the number of people living with HIV who are accessing TB preventive treatment to avoid the risk of active TB disease. -
CDC in Action: Hank TomlinsonHank Tomlinson, PhD leads CDC’s Division of Global HIV & TB. Hear from him about CDC’s data-driven efforts to combat the HIV and TB epidemics around the world. -
CDC in Action: Global TuberculosisHear from one of CDC’s technical experts on how the agency is working with Ministries of Health and other partners to develop innovative approaches to find, cure, and prevent TB worldwide.
Factsheets
An overview of CDC’s global TB efforts and return on investments in responding to one of the world’s greatest health threat.
An overview of the TB burden among children and adolescents and CDC’s response.