World TB Day: What you need to know

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by bacteria that most often affects the lungs. It spreads through the air when people with TB cough, sneeze or spit.

Tuberculosis is preventable and curable.

Those who are infected but free of disease cannot transmit it. TB disease is usually treated with antibiotics and can be fatal without treatment.

According to the WHO Global TB report 2024, the burden of TB was immense, with over 10.8 million individuals falling ill, up from 10.7 million in 2022 and 10.4 million in 2021.

An estimated 1.25 million children and adolescents continue to fall ill, and close to 1.2 million deaths worldwide.

In 2023 alone, Kenya recorded an estimated 124,000 TB cases and 15,000 deaths, making TB the leading cause of death in the country, the WHO said.