A doctor examines chest X-rays at a tuberculosis clinic.
#5. Coming to Grips with TB
Tuberculosis — as a plane-hopping honeymooner reminded Americans this summer — isn't restricted to the developing world. According to the World Health Organization, to date 41 countries have confirmed cases of extensively drug-resistant TB. And the region with the highest level of TB treatment failures? Europe. As a result, 15% of new TB cases in Eastern Europe, the Baltic States and Central Asia are multi-drug-resistant, a rate three times higher than in any other part of the globe. Yet most doctors are still forced to use TB treatments that are some 50 years old and even more antiquated detection methods.