According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tuberculosis (TB) is one of the deadliest diseases in the world, infecting approximately one-third of the world’s population.
On March 24, 1882, Dr. Robert Koch announced the discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes the disease. Back then, TB killed one out of every seven people living in Europe and the United States, making Koch’s discovery the beginning of a long journey toward the control and elimination of the disease – a journey that continues today.
A century after Koch’s discovery, the World Health Organization and the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease sponsored the first World TB Day, an event created to educate the public on the health and economic consequences of the infectious disease.
World TB Day is held across the globe to raise awareness about the effects and treatment options for tuberculosis. Check out our infographic below for some general information about the disease and also learn how you can join the fight against tuberculosis.
Sources for World Tuberculosis Day Infographic:
- CDC – TB Statistics
- One.org
- Stop TB
- Action.org
- TB Facts – Treatment
- CDC TB Treatment
- TB Facts – Prevention
