What Is Tuberculosis (TB)?
1. What Causes TB?
Tuberculosis is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The infection is contagious and spreads from person to person. It can be transmitted through droplets or aerosols. When infected people talk, cough, sing, sneeze, yell or breathe, they can spread the disease to those nearby who breathe in the air or droplets containing bacteria.
When a person breathes in enough M. tuberculosis, the bacteria can travel to and settle in the throat and lungs, which eventually leads to TB. The illness is not spread through direct contact, so you cannot get it from shaking hands, sharing your food or drink, kissing or touching an infected person.
-01.jpg)
