Awareness day brings attention to one of the world's deadliest diseases

Every year the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognizes March 24th as World Tuberculosis Day.  On this day, the CDC and the world community promote methods for people to learn more about tuberculosis – one of the deadliest diseases in the world.  March 24th is an important day concerning tuberculosis because it was on March 24, 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch, a German physician, discovered Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes tuberculosis (TB).

According to the CDC, tuberculosis has been an ailment that humans have suffered with for thousands of years.  Approximately 2 billion people are infected with M. tuberculosis.  “Each year, nearly 9 million people in the world become sick with TB disease, and almost 1.5 million deaths are attributed to TB,” according to the CDC website.  Since 1993, the rates of tuberculosis infections have significantly declined in the United States; however, the disease disproportionately affects racial and ethnic minorities in the U.S. 
Despite being a known disease for years, TB remains a devastating ailment.  The American Lung Association estimates that there are between 10 to 15 million Americans infected with the disease.  Furthermore, testing for TB is antiquated.  The same test used to diagnose TB a century ago remains in use in the present-day.  Tuberculosis can be detected with a TB blood or skin test.  If left untreated, TB can be fatal.
TB is an infectious disease that typically infects the lungs.  The disease is spread through the air from one person to another.  “When a person with TB in their lungs or throat coughs, laughs, sneezes, sings or even talks, the germs that cause TB may spread through the air,” according to the American Lung Association website. 
World TB Day also seeks to eliminate the tuberculosis disease.  “This is not the time to be complacent about TB diagnosis and treatment.  We need to maintain a clear vision of delivering same day diagnosis and treatment, if at all possible, and strive to eliminate TB in our lifetime,” says Dr. Kenneth Castro, Director of the CDC’s Division of Tuberculosis Elimination.  Advocates for the eradication of TB are already preparing for next March 24th.  Research and development of innovative techniques to combat TB are still needed.  With continued creativity and hard work perhaps TB can be eliminated in our lifetime.

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