Ghana marks World TB Day

World Tuberculosis Day is a day set aside to raise awareness on the burden of tuberculosis (TB) worldwide and the status of TB prevention and care efforts. 

According to the WHO, TB is caused by a bacteria, mycobacterium.

Tuberculosis is one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide.
 
Last year, WHO reported that more than ten million people fell ill with TB and there were nearly two million TB deaths, making it the top infectious killer in the world.

According to the survey by the National TB Control Programme, there are 286 cases per every 100,000 people in Ghana.
 
Though TB can attack any part of the body, it mostly affects the lungs.

The ailment spread from one person to the other through the air.

When people with lung TB cough, sneeze or spit, they emit the TB germs into the air.
 
A person needs to inhale only a few of these germs to become infected.

The symptoms of TB include cough, fever, night sweats, weight loss, chest pains, and weakness among others.

If not treated, it can be deadly.

GBC