According to the World Health Organization, tuberculosis killed 1.7 million people in India and China in 2006. Anti-tobacco campaigners claim that smoking was the main factor causing the spread of TB and death from the disease.
Smokers have an increased risk of contracting TB and suffer much worse symptoms.
In India smoking is responsible for the spread of TB and kills more people than lung cancer.
It is thought that 40% of TB deaths among men are caused by smoking. Smoking plays a major role in the spread of TB.