Tuberculosis: an ongoing global epidemic

With the World Tuberculosis Day, which takes place each year on March 24, we get reminded that ancient diseases remain a substantial medical issue worldwide. On March 24, 1882, Robert Koch discovered the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis that causes the disease tuberculosis (TB). Back in the 19th century, TB killed one out of every seven people living in the USA and Europe. In 1982, on the 100th anniversary of the discovery of TB, the World Tuberculosis Day was announced. Since then on this day global campaigns led by WHO and other international and national organisations take place to educate the public about the disease.