Worldwide of tuberculosis

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approximately a third of the world's population is latently infected with M. tuberculosis. From this pool, 8 to 10 million new active cases emerge per year, and the WHO estimates that roughly 50% are communicable forms of pulmonary disease. Regions in the world where the infection and disease are most prevalent include the Pacific Rim nations, Asia, the Indian subcontinent, sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, Russia, and the former Soviet Republics. Because of delayed, inadequate, or unavailable therapy, 2 to 3 million persons die annually; the WHO estimates that more than a fourth of preventable deaths in developing nations are attributable to tuberculosis.