What is tuberculosis and how dangerous is it?

Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection that primarily attacks the lungs but can affect any part of the body. Without treatment, TB is fatal in about half of cases. Even with modern treatment, TB kills over 1 million people annually. Drug-resistant TB strains make treatment more difficult and dangerous.

How does tuberculosis spread?

TB spreads through the air when a person with active pulmonary TB coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings, releasing bacteria-containing droplets. You can only get TB from someone with active disease in their lungs or throat. Close, prolonged contact (living or working together) poses the highest risk. You cannot get TB from touching surfaces, sharing food, or brief contact.

What is the difference between latent and active TB?

Latent TB means you're infected with TB bacteria but not sick and can't spread the disease. About 5-10% of people with latent TB develop active TB in their lifetime, especially if their immune system weakens. Active TB causes symptoms and can spread to others. Both conditions are treatable, but active TB requires more intensive, longer treatment.

Is there a vaccine for tuberculosis?

Yes, the BCG (Bacille Calmette-Guérin) vaccine is used in many countries where TB is common. BCG is effective at preventing severe TB in children (TB meningitis) but provides variable protection against pulmonary TB in adults. In the U.S., BCG is not routinely used due to low TB prevalence and variable effectiveness.

What is drug-resistant TB?

Drug-resistant TB occurs when bacteria become resistant to standard TB medications. Multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) doesn't respond to at least isoniazid and rifampin, the two most powerful TB drugs. Extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) is resistant to even more drugs. These forms require longer treatment (18-24 months) with more toxic, expensive medications and have lower cure rates.

Where is tuberculosis most common?

TB occurs worldwide but is most prevalent in Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Western Pacific. Eight countries account for two-thirds of global TB cases: India, Indonesia, China, Philippines, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, and South Africa. Check the live outbreak data above for current TB trends.

Wisconsin

Tuberculosis in Wisconsin

Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious bacterial infection that primarily affects the lungs but can spread to other organs. It remains one of the world's deadliest infectious diseases, second only to COVID-19 in recent years.

Track Tuberculosis activity in Wisconsin in real time.

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¿Qué es Tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In 2022, 10.6 million people fell ill with TB, and 1.3 million died from the disease. One-quarter of the world's population is estimated to be infected with TB bacteria, though most have latent TB (not sick or contagious). TB is curable and preventable, yet it continues to claim lives, particularly in low and middle-income countries.

Síntomas

Persistent cough lasting 3+ weeks
Coughing up blood or mucus
Chest pain when breathing or coughing
Unintentional weight loss
Fatigue and weakness
Fever and night sweats
Chills and loss of appetite

Transmisión

TB spreads through airborne particles when a person with active pulmonary TB coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings. Prolonged, close contact with an infected person increases transmission risk. TB is not spread by touching, sharing food, or brief contact. Poor ventilation increases transmission risk.

Período de Contagio: People with active pulmonary TB can be contagious until treated for 2-3 weeks; latent TB is not contagious

Prevención

Early diagnosis and treatment of active TB cases
Treatment of latent TB infection to prevent progression
BCG vaccination in high-burden countries (protects children)
Good ventilation in indoor spaces
Respiratory hygiene (covering mouth when coughing)
Isolation of infectious TB patients until no longer contagious
Regular screening for high-risk populations
UV light or air filtration in healthcare settings

Wisconsin Recursos de Salud

Información del departamento de salud local y orientación de prevención específica del estado

Estamos Monitoreando Wisconsin

Nuestra vigilancia impulsada por IA monitorea continuamente la actividad de Tuberculosis en todo Wisconsin. Rastreamos datos de departamentos de salud estatales, hospitales locales, informes del CDC y más de 50 fuentes de salud globales para proporcionar advertencia temprana de amenazas emergentes.

Reciba notificaciones instantáneas cuando la actividad de Tuberculosis aumenta en Wisconsin o en su condado específico.

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Wisconsin Departamento de Salud

Para alertas oficiales de salud del estado, ubicaciones de vacunación y orientación de salud pública específica de Wisconsin, visite el sitio web del departamento de salud de su estado.

→ Wisconsin Departamento de Salud → CDC Tuberculosis Information → CDC Health Topics

Understanding Tuberculosis: Key Questions

Ya sea que viva en Wisconsin or are traveling there, knowing the symptoms, timeline, and when to seek care helps you act quickly if exposure occurs.

Cuándo Buscar Atención Médica

Seek care if you experience severe dehydration, bloody stools, high fever, or symptoms lasting more than 3 days. Children under 5, adults over 65, and immunocompromised individuals should seek care earlier.

Síntomas de emergencia: Severe dehydration, inability to keep fluids down for 12 or more hours, or neurological symptoms require emergency care.

Recursos Expertos y Referencias

Información confiable de las principales organizaciones de salud

CDC

Orientación oficial de los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades de EE. UU.

Ver Recursos del CDC →

WHO

Vigilancia global de enfermedades y directrices de la Organización Mundial de la Salud

Ver Recursos de la OMS →

Investigación

Últimas investigaciones revisadas por pares y estudios clínicos

Ver Investigación →

Contenido Revisado Médicamente

La información sobre enfermedades en Virus Watcher es revisada por nuestro Epidemiólogo Jefe, ex analista principal del CDC para el pronóstico FluSight. Los datos de brotes se agregan de fuentes verificadas incluyendo BEACON, ProMED, OMS, CDC y más de 50 agencias nacionales de salud. Esta información es con fines educativos y no debe reemplazar el asesoramiento médico profesional.

Última revisión: 2026-08-13

Recent Tuberculosis Reports

No confirmed cases reported in Wisconsin yet. Here are the latest Tuberculosis reports from our global surveillance network.

DENVER (KDVR) - Public advocates are urging the state to take more action after health officials continue to be denied access to an ICE detention center to investigate a potential tuberculosis outbreak. Colorado public health officials say they continue to weigh their options af…

United States · 2026-08-12

Make this your preferred source to get more updates from this publisher on Google. Health advocates and health workers on Wednesday asked the Ombudsman to dismiss Health Secretary Jose "Brix" Pujalte Jr. over alleged whimsical suspension of procurement of tuberculosis drugs and …

Philippines · 2026-08-06

Two infections had comparable global death tolls in 2024: Tuberculosis (TB) killed 1.23 million, and Hepatitis B 1.1 million, while HIV-related illnesses killed 630,000. For Hepatitis B, the toll was 17% more than it was in 2015. In 2021, Hepatitis B consumed an estimated 21.5 mi…

World · World · 2026-07-28

MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippines and the United States have signed an agreement boosting efforts against the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB). In announcing the signing of the five-year Health Strategic Objective Agreement, the US embassy d…

Philippines · 2026-08-02

The Indian Council of Medical Research's drone-assisted transport of tuberculosis (TB) sputum samples initiative significantly improved access to diagnostic services, with the median turnaround time for TB diagnosis decreasing from 15 days to 5 days for people living in remote an…

India · 00 · 2026-07-18

The Department of Health has welcomed progress towards a new tuberculosis (TB) vaccine, while confirming preparatory work to ensure timely access for South Africans as part of ongoing efforts to eliminate the epidemic as a public health threat by 2030. This comes after the ongoin…

South Africa · 2026-08-03

Chandigarh: Facing a tuberculosis (TB) burden that exceeds the national average, Punjab govt has decided to deploy dedicated Class-I officers at the block and urban ward levels to spearhead the TB elimination efforts as part of its goal of making Punjab TB-free by 2030 under the …

United States · 2026-07-29

As South Africa grapples with a persistent tuberculosis (TB) epidemic, the Department of Health has expressed optimism about the ongoing development of a new vaccine that could alter the landscape of TB prevention and control, Cape {town} Etc reports. Recent trials of the M72/AS0…