Tuberculosis (TB)
In 2018, 1.5 million people died from tuberculosis (TB), including 251,000 individuals with HIV. Globally, TB ranks among the top 10 causes of death and is the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent, surpassing HIV/AIDS. That same year, an estimated 10 million people became ill with TB worldwide.
TB is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and is mainly transmitted through the air. The bacteria can affect various parts of the body but are most commonly found in the lungs. Individuals with pulmonary TB usually have a cough that produces tiny airborne droplets containing tubercle bacilli, which can remain suspended in the air for several hours.