As tuberculosis (TB) cases begin to rise once again in the United States and abroad, experts are warning that the world may be on the brink of a major resurgence of the deadliest infectious disease in history – including its drug-resistant forms. Public health specialists are raising concerns over severe cuts to local, national, and international health funding, with many fearing it could reverse years of progress. According to campaigners, including author John Green and the global health non-profit Partners In Health, restoring and increasing investment could help eliminate TB altogether.
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James Brookes, an IT specialist from Idaho with no personal connection to the disease, recently took his concerns to lawmakers in Washington. Motivated by Green’s online advocacy and the TBFighters group, Brookes travelled to Capitol Hill to urge support for early detection, treatment, and prevention strategies. Alongside 250 fellow advocates from across 49 states, Brookes participated in over 200 meetings with US lawmakers – a massive leap from just 35 attendees in the previous year. Their goal: to remind legislators that the world already has the tools to fight TB; it simply needs the will and funding.
Despite the existence of an effective treatment since the 1950s, TB remains prevalent, especially among people facing poverty, poor housing, or malnutrition. Green, speaking to TBFighters, argued that society is choosing to live in a world with TB when it has the option to eliminate it. Advocates like Kate O’Brien, who contracted TB during pregnancy, say the situation is frustratingly solvable. With budget reductions to agencies such as USAID and the CDC, projections indicate a potential rise of up to 32% in global TB cases, making urgent action essential.
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While the campaign has made gains – notably in reducing the price of bedaquiline, a TB drug – the fight is far from over. Brookes, inspired by the experience and determined to continue advocating for change, believes this is only the beginning. His efforts to raise awareness of TB have also informed his personal activism in disability advocacy, as he seeks to build a better world not only for TB patients, but also for his daughter who has cerebral palsy and autism. For Brookes and others, investing in health systems is not just global altruism – it’s a crucial step toward safer, healthier communities everywhere.
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