Over 120 years ago, Robert Koch identified the germ that causes tuberculosis (TB). Each year in March we remember this important discovery. World TB Day provides an opportunity to raise awareness about TB and to support worldwide TB control efforts. The slogan again this year is “Stop TB in My Lifetime.”
TB became nationally reportable in 1953. In 2012, for the first time, the US saw less than 10,000 cases! This is wonderful, but we still have work to do before TB becomes a distant memory here.
Across the globe, the situation is much worse. TB infects and kills millions. In 2011 8.7 million people fell ill with TB and 1.4 million died from TB.
For more information about TB throughout the world go to http://www.who.int/campaigns/tb-day/2013/en/index.html.