Tuberculosis (TB) hasn’t left us. While the world has come a long way from the days when one in every seven people died from the disease, it’s still important to recognize that TB can sicken and kill people in the U.S. and beyond. TB is the 13th leading cause of death worldwide.
On March 24, we recognize World TB Day, the day in 1882 that Dr. Robert Koch announced the discovery of the bacteria that cause TB: Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Antibiotics to treat TB were developed in 1943.
TB can be found in all 50 states, including Virginia. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that up to 13 million people in the U.S. have latent TB infection (LTBI). That means they don’t have any symptoms but do carry the bacteria in their bodies. And while they can’t spread it to others, they could develop TB disease in their lifetimes.
Anyone can get TB. It can be spread through the air when someone with active TB disease coughs, speaks or sings. Testing and treatment are available and can save lives.
Here are a few more interesting facts about TB:
- In the early 1800s, some people in New England believed TB could be caused by vampires.
- Archeologists found TB in the remains of people who died 9,000 years ago in Atlit Yam, a city off the coast of Israel now under the Mediterranean Sea.
- TB also can be found in animals in the U.S., including cattle and deer.
- The TB skin test used today to diagnose the disease is basically the same one that has been used for almost 80 years. Blood tests also are available.
- Before antibiotics, isolation in a sanitorium and proper nutrition were the best treatment for TB.
To learn more, visit the CDC’s TB History page.
Testing and treatment are critical to preventing TB disease and ending TB in our lifetimes.
Ugonjwa wa kifua kikuu (TB) haujatuacha. Ingawa dunia imepita njia ndefu kutoka siku ambazo mtu mmoja kati ya watu saba alikufa kutokana na ugonjwa huo, bado ni muhimu kutambua kwamba kifua kikuu kinaweza kuambukiza na kuua watu nchini Marekani na nje yake. Tuberculosis ni sababu ya 13 ya vifo duniani kote. Siku ya kwanza ya kuadhimisha siku ya kwanza ya ugonjwa wa kifua kikuu duniani ni tarehe 24 Machi mwaka 1882 wakati Daktari Robert Koch alipogundua bakteria inayosababisha ugonjwa wa kifua kikuu (TB) inayoitwa Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Antibiotics ilianzishwa mwaka 1943 ili kutibu ugonjwa wa kifua kikuu. Ugonjwa wa kifua kikuu umepatikana katika majimbo yote 50 ya Marekani, ikiwa ni pamoja na Virginia. Kulingana na Kituo cha Kudhibiti na Kuzuia Magonjwa (CDC), karibu watu milioni 13 nchini Marekani wana ugonjwa wa kifua kikuu (LTBI). Hiyo inamaanisha hawana dalili zozote lakini hubeba bakteria katika miili yao. Na ingawa hawawezi kuisambaza kwa wengine, wanaweza kuambukizwa ugonjwa wa kifua kikuu maishani mwao. Mtu yeyote anaweza kupatwa na kifua kikuu. Inaweza kuenea kupitia hewa wakati mtu aliye na ugonjwa wa kifua kikuu anapokosa, anapozungumza au kuimba. Uchunguzi na matibabu yanapatikana na yanaweza kuokoa uhai. Katika miaka ya 1800, watu wengi katika New England waliamini kwamba ugonjwa wa kifua kikuu unaweza kusababishwa na vampires. Wataalamu wa vitu vya kale wamegundua kwamba ugonjwa wa kifua kikuu uliishi katika mabaki ya watu waliokufa miaka 9,000 iliyopita huko Atlit-Yam, mji ulio karibu na pwani ya Israeli ambao sasa uko chini ya Bahari ya Mediterania. TB pia inaweza kupatikana katika wanyama nchini Marekani, ikiwa ni pamoja na ng'ombe na nyati. Mtihani wa ngozi wa TB unaotumiwa leo kugundua ugonjwa huo ni ule ule ambao umekuwa ukitumiwa kwa karibu miaka 80. Uchunguzi wa damu unapatikana pia. - Kabla ya kutumia viuavijasumu, kutengwa katika hospitali na kula vyakula vyenye lishe nzuri ndiyo iliyokuwa njia bora ya kutibu kifua kikuu. Ili kujifunza zaidi, tembelea ukurasa wa Historia ya TB wa CDC. Uchunguzi na matibabu ni muhimu sana katika kuzuia ugonjwa wa kifua kikuu na kumaliza kifua kikuu katika maisha yetu.