Each year we aim to raise awareness about tuberculosis (TB), a disease that continues to affect millions of people worldwide.

For World TB Day, this series explores TB through the lens of art and culture, revisiting the lives of individuals such as John Keats and Vivien Leigh. Their stories highlight how TB has shaped human experience across time.

This series also includes the perspective of a contemporary artist and TB survivor, Paulina Siniatkina, reminding us that TB is not only part of history, but a present and lived reality.

Today:

• More than 10 million people develop TB each year

• Over 1 million people die annually

• It is the world’s leading cause of death from a single infectious agent and it is among the top 10 causes of death worldwide.

Despite being preventable and curable, significant challenges persist:

• Stigma and delayed diagnosis

• Inequitable access to care

• The growing threat of drug-resistant TB

• Ongoing gaps in research and innovation

Behind these numbers are individuals, families, and communities.
Addressing TB requires sustained commitment, not only through treatment, but also through research, awareness, and collaboration across disciplines.

By bringing together science, art, and community engagement, we can contribute to a future where TB is no longer a global health threat.