U.N.'s Ban calls for world TB funding

UNITED NATIONS, March 24 (UPI) -- Unless more funds are dedicated to the fight against tuberculosis, millions could die from the largely curable disease, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says.

Additional funding is needed for research, improved prevention, early diagnosis and treatment to prevent a possible 8 million deaths between now and 2015, he said in a statement marking World Tuberculosis day Thursday.

"There is cause for optimism" he said. "The recent adoption of a fast and powerful new diagnostic tool promises to accelerate international gains against the disease.

"At the same time, our hope must be tempered by the sobering fact that multi-drug-resistant forms of tuberculosis (MDR-TB) remain an ever-present threat that, if allowed to spread unchecked, could set back the steady progress made during the past two decades."

The U.N. World Health Organization estimates there will be more than 2 million new cases of MDR-TB between 2011 and 2015.

Ban cited major achievements by the WHO, including impressive improvements in the way TB care is delivered with well over 40 million people receiving treatment over the past 15 years, a U.N. release reported.

However, he warned, much remains to be done.

"This progress could be lost if we are not vigilant," Ban said. "Efforts to carry out the strategy are severely under-funded, as is research to develop additional, badly needed tools."

"In the 21st century, no one should die from this curable disease," he said.