Various organisations such as WHO, Stop TB and the Consultancy Development Centre are observing 24 March as World TB day.

Every year world TB day has a theme and this year it is: Eliminate TB in My Lifetime. The day aims to raise awareness about tuberculosis and the efforts made to prevent and treat the disease

 Tuberculosis or TB, is one of the most deadly and infectious diseases and it usually affects the lungs. It is transmitted through air.  TB is caused by a germ called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Approximately one-third of the world's population is latently infected with the bacterium.

TB claimed 1.45 million lives worldwide in 2010. Among people with HIV/AIDS, TB is a major co-infection and the leading cause of death, responsible for killing approximately 350,000 HIV-infected individuals in 2010, according to the World Health Organisation.

The fight to stop TB will be successful only if local, state, national, and international partners from all sections of society join hands, experts opine.

SOURCE:IBTimes