This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American
Unless you've been distanced from the news and the internet, you have heard that tuberculosis has become increasingly drug resistant and is resurging in many areas of the world and this is much more than a minor inconvenience.
Kari Stoever, the Vice President of External Affairs at Aeras - a global nonprofit biotech advancing TB vaccines for the world, has put together a team to create an educational series of videos, which are available in its entirety for screenings, to raise awareness about the re-emerging infectiousness and virulence of pulmonary TB across the world.
It will air in chapters online, to be released one per week for the next four weeks. I will share a bit more about the background of these videos and interweave some of my experiences concerning TB diagnosis and treatment in India as I explored issues of child survival with the International Reporting project back in February, as each video is released over the upcoming weeks.
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Here is Chapter 1:
(Anyone else notice that my co-blogger, Carin Bondar, seems to have a doppelganger in this video?)
From the description on Vimeo:
"Natalie Skipper survived multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, but not before it flipped her life upside down. We weave together Natalie's story – which took place in Nashville, Tennessee – with a global perspective on the pervasive threat posed by TB around the world.
EXPOSED is a four-part series of short films that tells the story of the deadly global epidemic of tuberculosis. The series focuses on current efforts to halt this airborne disease, which is growing more difficult to address, as well as the urgent movement to develop new tools to prevent it. By telling the stories of four inspiring individuals interspersed with expert commentary from some of the world’s top TB physicians, scientists, advocates and policymakers, EXPOSED brings viewers to the forefront of the race against tuberculosis. For more information, go to aeras.org/exposed.
We need your help to spread the word. Watch and share at aeras.org/exposed. To organize a screening, email film@aeras.org.
EXPOSED is produced by Aeras, a nonprofit biotech advancing tuberculosis vaccines for the world. The series is developed in partnership with filmmaker Mo Scarpelli of RAKE FILMS with support from GATHER."
Stay tuned for more.