Red-Haired Ash Reads

“One estimate…maintains that TB has killed around one in seven people who ever lived.”

Tuberculosis is something that I knew was a thing that killed a lot of people but I didn’t realize it was still so rampant and that it is still killing on such a wide scale. Green does a great job at breaking down the spread of TB and why it is still so rampant in certain communities in the world. TB is rampant where racism, poverty, and the lingering effects of colonialism are still in place. Instead of leaders focusing on getting rid of TB worldwide, they treat it like it’s not a big deal and leave poorer communities to fend for themselves after initial outbreaks. 

“What is different now from 1804 and 1904 is that now Tuberculosis is curable and has been since the mid-1950s. We know how to live in a world without Tuberculosis but we chose not to live in that world.” 

Much like Green, I knew very little about TB before reading this book and I learned a lot about the disease and its impact. While this doesn’t deep dive into TB or the history of it, it still provides an accessible overview of the situation and is a great starting point for those who know nothing about TB. Hopefully this book will prompt some change with the health care systems around TB treatments and eradication.

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