What is TB?

Tuberculosis is

 

- A bacteria that affects the lungs.

- Spread through the air via coughing and sneezing.

- Symptoms include cough, fever, night sweats and weight loss.

- The symptoms may be mild for months which can lead to delays in seeking care, and allow the bacteria to be transmitted to others.

- Curable, but without proper treatment up to two thirds of people will die.

- Each year nine million people fall ill and 1.5 million die worldwide.

- More than 95 per cent of deaths occur in low and middle-income countries.

- Globally in 2013 an estimated 480,000 people developed multidrug-resistant TB.

- Top 22 countries for TB are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, China, DR Congo, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Thailand, Uganda, Tanzania, Vietnam and Zimbabwe.

(SOURCE: World Health Organisation)

Tags: TB, tuberculosis