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175 Healthcare: Biological Hazards
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Tuberculosis

A total of 1.5 million people died from tuberculosis (TB) in 2018, including 251,000 people with HIV. Worldwide, TB is one of the top 10 causes of death and the leading cause from a single infectious agent (above HIV/AIDS). In 2018, an estimated 10 million people fell ill with TB worldwide.

Tuberculosis is spread primarily by airborne transmission.

TB is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and is spread primarily by airborne transmission. M. tuberculosis can affect any part of the body but is found most often in the lungs. Persons with pulmonary TB generally have a cough that produces small airborne droplets containing tubercle bacilli, bacteria that can remain in the air for hours.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

3-1. Tuberculosis (TB) is spread primarily by _____.