PAHO/WHO Americas Region: World TB Day 2014: One in five people with TB is unaware of the disease
One in five people infected with tuberculosis in the Americas remains unaware of the disease, due to failure to access health services or because they are not properly diagnosed, according to estimates by the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO).
In 2012, countries of the region reported 220,000 cases of tuberculosis, and an estimated 19,000 people died from the disease. But an additional 60,000 people are believed to have TB who have not yet been diagnosed. This situation not only endangers their lives, it also facilitates further transmission of TB, producing more disease and generating socioeconomic costs for individuals, families and communities.
Source: PAHO/WHO Americas Region
