Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It affects the lungs and can spread to other parts of the body, such as the brain and spine. TB is one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide, accounting for around 1.7 million deaths in 2018. It is most common in parts of the world with inadequate healthcare and poor living conditions. Treatment usually requires multiple antibiotics over a 6-12 month period. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends TB prevention and control measures, such as the use of vaccines, early diagnosis and treatment, and contact tracing. Improving living conditions and health care access is also key in reducing the number of new TB cases and deaths.