World Tuberculosis Day | How much do you know about tuberculosis?

March 24, 2023

It is the 28th

World Tuberculosis Day

This year's campaign theme is

“You and I work together

Ending the TB epidemic

About tuberculosis,

How much do you know?

World Tuberculosis Day established

What is the historical background?

At the end of 1995, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated March 24th of each year as World Tuberculosis Day to commemorate the announcement by German microbiologist Robert Koch of his discovery of the tuberculosis pathogen to a group of doctors in Berlin, Germany in 1882, in order to remind the public to deepen their understanding of tuberculosis.

The theme of this year's campaign is "Let's work together to end the tuberculosis epidemic." The theme aims to thoroughly implement the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress, practice the concept of "people first, life first", and call on all sectors of society to participate in ending the tuberculosis epidemic and safeguarding the health of the people.

What is tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis, also known as "consumption", is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which mainly invades the human lungs and causes pulmonary tuberculosis. Pulmonary tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease that has long seriously endangered public health. In addition to the new coronavirus infection, the number of cases and deaths among the Class A and Class B infectious diseases that are legally reported in my country ranks second. If not discovered in time and not treated thoroughly, pulmonary tuberculosis will cause serious harm to health, and may even cause respiratory failure and death, bringing a heavy economic burden to patients and their families.

How is tuberculosis transmitted?

Tuberculosis is a respiratory infectious disease that is easily spread. Tuberculosis patients spread tuberculosis bacteria into the air through coughing, expectoration, and sneezing, and healthy people can be infected by inhaling droplets containing tuberculosis bacteria.

People who live, work or study in the same room with tuberculosis patients are close contacts of tuberculosis patients and may be infected with tuberculosis bacteria. They should go to the hospital for examination and exclusion in time.