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Learning Objectives
  • Tuberculosis (TB) is a communicable disease that is a major cause of ill health.

  • TB is caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb)

  • TB disease typically affects the lungs (pulmonary TB) (80%) but can also affect other parts of the body (extra pulmonary TB) (20%)

  • It spreads when people who are sick with TB expel bacteria into the air (for example by coughing, sneezing, shouting or singing)

  • It is one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide and the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent