Tuberculosis

TB is one of the 13th leading cause of death worldwide.¹ 1 in 4 people in the world carry the bacteria that causes TB in their body but do not become ill. This is called “latent TB”.¹

By breathing in droplets from the coughs and sneezes of someone infected with the bacteria that cause the disease.¹

You can catch TB almost anywhere, but the majority of new cases are in South-East Asia, the Western Pacific, and Africa (see map).^1,2

Symptoms can be mild and last for many months. They include a persistent cough (sometimes with blood), fever, chest pains, night sweats, weight loss.¹

TB can generally be treated with antibiotics. If it’s not treated, it may get worse and can be fatal.¹ It is particularly serious for people whose immune system is compromised, such as people living with HIV, malnutrition or diabetes.¹

You can take the following precautions to help reduce your risk of infection:

• Visit your nearest convenient pharmacy or specialist travel health clinic for a risk assessment before your trip
• Ensure that anyone who has been in contact with someone with TB is checked by their doctor, especially children.