Tuberculosis (TB) Fact Sheet

World TB Day: March 24th

• World TB Day, March 24, commemorates the day in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced his discovery of the tubercle bacillus, the germ that causes tuberculosis - a world-wide – still deadly disease.
• Tuberculosis (TB) is an airborne disease caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis – a germ that primarily affects the lungs but can also affect other organs.
• Once the germ is inside a person's body, the body’s immune system can suppress its growth, resulting in active or latent TB infection, which does not make the person feel sick and cannot be spread to others. TB infection can, however, develop into active disease at a later time.
• If an infected person’s immune system does not inactivate the TB germ, the person may develop active TB disease at a later time.
• When a person with active TB sneezes or coughs, TB bacteria may be released into the air. Another person inhaling the bacteria may develop TB infection. If not treated, each person with active TB can infect on average 10 to 15 people a year.
• A simple tuberculin skin test can help diagnose TB infection or disease. TB can be cured with appropriate treatment and medication, which is managed through local Health Departments in N.C.

TB in North Carolina

• In 2000 there were 447 cases of tuberculosis in N.C. The annual number of TB cases declined steadily until 2005 when we had the lowest number of cases reported in the state, 329. In 2007 there was a slight increase with 345 cases being reported.
• N.C. achieved this significant decrease in TB cases through public health education, screening, diagnosis and proper treatment. N.C. enforces a regulation passed in 2006 to provide all TB medications by Directly Observed Therapy (DOT).

TB in the United States

• In 2007, there were 13,299 cases of active TB reported in the United States .
• The U.S. cannot let its guard down. After funding for TB control was cut in the 1970's and 1980's, the U.S. experienced an increase in TB disease. Many of these cases were resistant to routine drugs.
• Persons who immigrated from countries with high rates of TB comprised 58% of all TB cases in the U.S. in 2007. This fact highlights the importance of the U.S. continuing to cooperate with other countries to control the spread of TB.

TB Globally

• Two billion people–one third of the world’s total population–are infected with the tubercle bacillus.
• There were 9.2 million new TB cases in 2006, including 709,000 cases among people living with HIV.
• 1.7 million people died from TB in 2006, including 231,000 people with HIV. This is equal to 4,500 deaths per day.
• TB is a leading killer among people living with HIV, who have weakened immune systems. The HIV/AIDS epidemic has fueled the increase in TB throughout the world. Persons co-infected with HIV and TB are more than 100 times more likely to develop active TB.
• TB is a worldwide pandemic. Although the highest rates per capita are in Africa (28% of all TB cases), half of all new cases are in six Asian countries (Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan and the Philippines).

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

World Health Organization

[ Topics A-Z | Communicable Disease Control | Exposure to Chemicals | Environmental Contaminants ]
[ Fish Consumption Advisories | HIV/STDs | Hurricane Information | Indoor Air Quality ]
[ Medical Evaluation & Risk Assessment | Occupational & Environmental Epidemiology ]
[ Occupational Illness & Injury | Ozone | Pfiesteria ]
[ Rabies | Tuberculosis | Veterinary Public Health ]
[ North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services ]