Tuberculosis (TB) is an ancient disease that has plagued humanity for millennia. While the exact origin of TB is still being investigated, current evidence suggests that it originated in East Africa around 3 million years ago. This conclusion is based on the presence of TB in ancient hominid fossils found in the region.
However, it's important to note that the TB found in those fossils may not be the exact same strain that affects humans today. It is believed that all modern strains of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, which includes the bacteria causing TB, evolved from a common ancestor approximately 20,000 to 15,000 years ago.
The earliest written records describing TB date back to 3,300 and 2,300 years ago, found in India and China respectively. Archaeological evidence from Atlit Yam, a city now submerged under the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Israel, indicates TB in humans as early as 9,000 years ago.
These findings suggest that TB has been a significant health issue for humans for a long time, and its history is intertwined with human evolution and migration.
