The impact of the unclean and crowded living conditions, especially that experienced in the thickly populated slums of the developing countries, towards enhancing the risk of tuberculosis (TB) infection is well known, and the same has been documented previously [1-3]. Historically, TB has been a disease associated with poor people across the world. On an average about 2–3 million people succumb to this neglected yet a lethal disease. Of this population, a large fraction belongs to the underprivileged habitats in the developing countries and the poor, urban neighbourhoods in wealthier, advanced powers [1].

Tuberculosis disease among previously treated individuals (recurrent TB) constitutes 5–30% of the TB burden. There has been a lot of effort to make a difference between Relapse & Recurrence. "Recurrence", is generally considered as "the second episode of tuberculosis, after the cure of the first episode". Recurrence may be due to endogenous relapse or exogenous reinfection [1]. Repeated recurrences in the same individual add to the TB burden, but the extent has not been quantified due to difficulties in identifying recurrence in routinely collected data [2]. Therein lies a challenge that needs to be addressed.

This is a brief story of a woman, educated and working in UK and who had to undergo multiple episodes of recurrence.

Myth: Tuberculosis is a curse. Reality: This is a false notion. This is caused by tuberculosis bacteria, which originated in East Africa about 3 million years ago. TB was found in mummies around 15000 years back. Since it is caused by TB bacteria, therefore it can occur in rich and poor persons. It can be prevented by taking appropriate measures and precautions.

Respiratory infections have been haunting humanity for a long time, and Tuberculosis is one such primary infection. The world woke up to the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic indicating how deadly respiratory illness can be. It is a grave reminder that health threats can travel faster across the continents. Tuberculosis has been present in humans since ancient times. Skeletal remains show that some prehistoric humans had TB.

Storytelling is the best way to grab people's attention, and people who can tell the most compelling stories, stories about their lives, can command the most influence within their communities.

The supersonic speed with which the COVID-19 vaccines (mRNA and others) were developed, clinically tested, and delivered to the world was spectacular! So the question is, why have we not done this for TB and other rare, neglected, and infectious diseases that kill millions worldwide? Indeed, a recent publication has asked the question, “Where are the RNA vaccines for TB?”