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World TB day 24 March 2023

20 Mar 2023

World Tuberculosis (TB) day takes place on 24 March each year. Its purpose is to help raise public awareness and strengthen efforts to end the global TB pandemic.

TB is a preventable and curable bacterial infection that occurs throughout the world and remains one of the world’s deadliest infections. Over 95% of TB deaths occur in developing countries. Every day:

  • nearly 4,400 people die from TB
  • nearly 30,000 people become ill with TB

In addition, TB is a major contributor to antimicrobial resistance and is the leading cause of death in people living with HIV.

The global COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing conflicts across Europe, Africa and Middle East and inequalities in society have reversed years of progress made in the fight against TB, and for the first time in a decade the number of people who have become infected with TB, and who have died from TB, have increased.

The theme for World TB Day 2023 is 'Yes! We can end TB', chosen to inspire hope, encourage global action and strong leadership, invest resources and come together to ramp up the fight to combat the TB epidemic.

Advice for travellers

TB is spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person sneezes or coughs.

If you are in close contact with an infected person, these droplets might land in your eyes, nose or mouth and cause infection, or you might touch a surface which has become contaminated with infected droplets and then transfer them to your eyes, nose or mouth with your hands.

TB can affect any part of the body, including the lungs.

  • See the fitfortravel Tuberculosis page for further information