Public Health observes World TB Day
Saint Paul – Ramsey County Public Health held a World TB Day event, Friday, March 22 to raise awareness about tuberculosis. Staff from the county, the Minnesota Department of Health and community partners attended the event organized by Public Health’s Tuberculosis Clinic to share information, resources and show support for the fight against TB.
Tuberculosis is a contagious disease caused by germs (bacteria) that usually attack the lungs. The germs are spread through the air, when a person with active TB disease coughs, sneezes, speaks or even laughs and the bacteria is inhaled by another person. These germs can stay in the air for several hours depending on the environment. People are most likely to become infected with TB if they spend many hours in close contact (family members or co-workers) with someone infected with active TB disease. Though TB is a serious disease, it can be treated with medication.
If you think you have been exposed to or may be suffering from TB, contact your primary clinic and speak to a health care professional. Ramsey County offers services via referral to the TB clinic.
Learn more about the TB clinic.
World TB Day is officially observed on March 24 each year, in recognition of the day in 1882 that Dr. Robert Koch discovered the Mycobacterium tuberculosis.