‘Funding for TB is in crisis,’ says John Green, author of Everything is Tuberculosis

John Green, the author behind the best-selling book "The Fault in Our Stars," has become a staunch advocate for the eradication of tuberculosis. His latest work, "Everything is Tuberculosis," delves into the disease's history, the U.S.'s role in addressing it, and the reasons behind his commitment to tackle this issue.

An excerpt from an interview with Green reveals the gravity of the current situation. As of 2023, approximately 1.25 million people succumbed to tuberculosis. This staggering figure is overwhelming, and processing such numbers proves challenging. Green aimed to bring the disease to life by focusing on a single individual's personal experience with tuberculosis, thus humanizing the disease.

To accomplish this, he met Henry at a tuberculosis hospital in Sierra Leone in 2019. Despite appearing healthy, Henry's TB was resistant to antibiotics, leading Green to learn the grim fact that tuberculosis remains our deadliest infectious disease even after all these years.

Green's journey from learning about maternal health in Sierra Leone to becoming an advocate for tuberculosis eradication underscores the severity of the global TB crisis.