World Tuberculosis Day
Come celebrate World Tuberculosis Day with the Infectious Disease Interest Group (IDIG) and the Global Health Interest Group (GHIG)!
On Tuesday, March 24, from 5-6:30 p.m. in Liebelt Hall, IDIG and GHIG will host Altaf Darvesh, M.Pharm., Ph.D., associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences in the College of Pharmacy. This event is meant to raise awareness among training medical professionals about the history, global impact and treatment of TB.
Dr. Darvesh will discuss the history of tuberculosis and how it has impacted the world for thousands of years.
Did you know that symptoms of TB have been found on Egyptian mummies dating back to 2400 B.C.? Or that early treatments for TB included recommendations of “fresh air, milk and sea voyages” by ancient Greek physicians? This is just one piece of fascinating history that will be discussed at World TB Day.
The global impact of TB will also be highlighted. According to the World Health Organization, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, tuberculosis was the the most prevalent infectious disease in the world affecting approximately 10.7 million people per year, with a total of 1.23 million deaths per year.
Finally, learn how TB research and treatment have evolved. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that over a billion dollars have been invested in TB research worldwide with multiple areas of interest such as new treatments, vaccines and the epidemiology of the disease. Modern research includes development of new methods to automate TB diagnosis, allowing it to be more accessible in areas with fewer trained professionals.
This lecture marks the second World TB Day event IDIG and GHIG have hosted. We hope to see you there!