Why do many saints die of tuberculosis?

Answer 1

I have asked myself that same question. It seems that either a saint died a martyr's death or died of TB. I think the answer lies in the fact that TB has always been a big killer of humans - saint or sinner. This was especially true before modern medicine developed drugs to treat it and people are now also eating a more healthy diet. However, in underdeveloped areas of the world TB continues to be a major killer even today. New strains of TB have now emerged that are nearly impossible to cure. In today's world over 2 million people still die each year of the disease. Each person with TB infects 12-15 other people so it is still a major killer even in today's world.

Answer 2

Tuberculosis was prevalent in many parts of the world before the advent of modern medicine. Because many saints lived in times when medical treatments were limited, they were susceptible to contracting diseases like tuberculosis. Additionally, saints often worked closely with the poor and sick, increasing their risk of exposure to Infectious Diseases.