World Tuberculosis Day Observed (1/2)

World Tuberculosis Day was March 24th. It was also the 125th anniversary " class="hjdict" word="anniversary " target=_blank>anniversary of the discovery of the bacterium that causes the lung disease.

Tuberculosis is one of the world's leading infectious diseases. The World Health Organization says about 2 billion people around the world are infected with the bacterium that causes the disease. About 1.6 million people died from the lung disease in 2005.

TB infection can remain inactive in a person's lungs for years, or even a lifetime. The disease, however, becomes active in about ten percent of all cases. TB causes a high body temperature and coughing. Infected people spread the disease by releasing particles from their mouths when they cough, sneeze" class="hjdict" word="sneeze" target=_blank>sneeze, spit or talk. Most TB cases are in South and East Asia, Africa and West Pacific nations. The World Health Organization says about 60% of all cases are discovered and a majority of them are cured.