Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). It typically affects the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body, and is one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide. Tuberculosis is spread through the air when an infected person coughs, speaks or sneezes, and is usually treated with a combination of drugs over the course of several months. Early diagnosis and treatment are vital to reduce the spread and save lives. Vaccination is an effective way to prevent TB, with the Bacille Calmette-Guérín (BCG) vaccine being one of the most widely used. Prevention, diagnosis and treatment of TB are important public health strategies to reduce the global burden of disease.