Unexplainable The disease we let win
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Jul 16, 2025 
Join John Green, a renowned podcaster and award-winning author, as he tackles the haunting question: why does tuberculosis still claim over a million lives each year despite a cure? He delves into the emotional facets of adolescence and TB, sharing eye-opening experiences from Sierra Leone. Green explores the shifting perceptions of the disease, revealing its stigma across social classes and the stark realities faced by marginalized communities. The conversation highlights the critical role of social factors in public health responses.
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Henry's Story Sparks Obsession
- John Green shared a moving story about Henry, a TB patient in Sierra Leone who looked much younger due to illness.
- Henry's urgent need for effective treatment became a catalyst for John's deep exploration of tuberculosis.
TB's Slow Spread Strategy
- Tuberculosis's slow replication allows it to spread and cause long-term illness more effectively.
- This slow and steady progression makes it a perfect predator that infects many people over extended periods.
Romanticizing Consumption Held Us Back
- TB was once romanticized as "consumption," viewed as a beautiful, inherited condition that spurred creativity.
- This romanticization impeded early understanding and intervention of tuberculosis as an infectious disease.
