Tobacco could kill more than one billion this century

NEW YORK - TOBACCO use could kill more than one billion people around the world this century unless governments and civil society act to reverse the epidemic, according to a World Health Organisation (WHO) report released on Thursday.

'One hundred million deaths were caused by tobacco in the 20th century,' said the report unveiled by WHO Director General Margaret Chan at a joint press conference with New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

'If current trends continue, there will be up to one billion deaths in the 21st century,' the report said.

'Unchecked, tobacco-related deaths will increase to more than eight million a year by 2030, and 80 per cent of those deaths will occur in the developing world.'

The study, which provides key data on tobacco use and control for countries representing more than 99 per cent of the world's population, recommends a six-pronged approach to combat the scourge.

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