Tuberculosis was responsible for more global deaths than any other infectious disease before Covid-19 spread across the world. However, targeted public health efforts caused tuberculosis cases to steadily fall for decades. The pandemic disrupted important health interventions for tuberculosis and decreased social and economic opportunities for marginalized people, which has resulted in a serious dent in the fight against tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is a contagious bacterial infection of the lungs that can result in death if left untreated. Total estimated tuberculosis infections globally have been falling for years, but 2021 saw a significant increase in infections and deaths for the first time in more than a decade due to pandemic disruptions. The number of confirmed cases of tuberculosis fell significantly before quickly rising again in 2021 due to lack of testing, a pattern that also played out in the U.S. This highlights the need for continued public health efforts to combat tuberculosis and address the disruptions caused by the pandemic.

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