40 million

Number of tuberculosis deaths predicted worldwide between 2010 and 2050 if current smoking rates continue, raising the total number of smoking-related TB deaths by 66%, from 61 million to 101 million. Smoking, which is a risk factor for tuberculosis, is also predicted to contribute to 18 new TB cases over the same time period, especially in Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean and Southeast Asia. If smoking rates were aggressively lowered, however, TB deaths linked to smoking could fall by 27 million by 2050. [via WebMD]