Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious disease spread through the air from one person to another. When a person with active TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, speaks, laughs, sings, or sneezes, they release tiny droplets containing TB germs into the air. These droplets can remain suspended in the air for hours, and anyone breathing in these droplets can become infected.
It's important to note that having latent TB infection is not enough to spread the germ. A person must have active TB disease of the lungs or throat to transmit the bacteria.
Here are some additional details about TB transmission:
- Direct contact is not necessary for TB transmission. You can become infected simply by breathing in the air where a person with active TB disease has been.
- TB is not easily spread. People with active TB disease can spread the infection to others if they are not properly treated.
- The risk of infection is higher if you spend a lot of time in close contact with someone who has active TB disease.
- People with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to TB infection and are at greater risk of developing active TB disease.
