WHO also labeled antibiotic-resistant TB as a “public health crisis.” Over 400,000 people developed multidrug-resistant TB or TB resistant to rifampicin, a first line TB drug, in 2022. WHO believes this is due to a “sizable backlog” of people who developed the disease over the last few years, but delayed getting tested because of the Covid pandemic. TangentĪlthough TB deaths declined in 2022 (1.3 million) compared to 20 (1.4 million), new cases were at an all-time high. Symptoms include weight loss, night sweats, fever, loss of appetite, a persistent cough that lasts more than three weeks, swelling that won’t go away and fatigue. Once TB bacteria becomes active it becomes infectious. These people have no symptoms, can’t spread TB to other people, typically test positive for TB and can develop TB disease if they don’t take medicine to stop it from growing. Most people who breathe in TB bacteria are able to stop them from growing when the bacteria stay inside the body without making the person sick, this is called latent TB. TB cannot be spread by sharing foods or drinks, shaking hands, kissing, sharing toothbrushes or touching toilet seats or beds. However, TB is only infectious when present in the throat or lungs, no other place. Once in the lungs, the bacteria can grow and spread to other parts of the body, like the brain, kidneys or spine. This can happen when a person with TB of the throat or lungs sneezes, coughs, sings or talks, causing people nearby to breathe in the bacteria.

TB is spread from person to person when bacteria enters the air, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “That is why it's important to take a test, even if you do not feel sick.” Key Background 'TB can live inside someone for years without showing signs of its presence,” Meera Sreenivasan, deputy health officer for CCH said in a statement.

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