Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious illness that mainly affects the lungs. The germs that cause tuberculosis are a type of bacteria. Tuberculosis can spread when a person with the illness coughs or sneezes.
Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a bacterium (or germ) called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. When a person breathes in TB germs, the germs can settle in the lungs and begin to grow. From there, they can move through the blood to other parts of the body, such as the kidney, spine, and brain.
TB bacteria can live in the body without making you sick. This is called inactive TB or latent TB infection. People with inactive TB are infected with TB germs, but they do not have active TB disease. They do not feel sick, do not have symptoms of TB disease, and cannot spread TB germs to others.
Without treatment, people with inactive TB can develop active TB disease at any time and become sick. TB germs become active if the immune system can’t stop them from multiplying and growing in the body. When TB germs are active (multiplying in your body), this is called active TB disease. People with active TB disease feel sick. They may also be able to spread the germs to people they spend time with every day. Without treatment, active TB disease can be fatal.
Tuberculosis can spread when a person with the illness coughs, sneezes or sings, which can put tiny droplets with the germs into the air. Another person can then breathe in the droplets, and the germs enter the lungs. It spreads easily where people gather in crowds or when people live in crowded conditions. People with HIV/AIDS and other people with weakened immune systems have a higher risk of catching tuberculosis than people with typical immune systems.
Drugs called antibiotics can treat tuberculosis. But some forms of the bacteria no longer respond well to treatments.
100-Day TB Elimination Campaign
In a decisive step towards eliminating TB in India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in collaboration with key stakeholders, is all set to launch the 100-Day TB elimination campaign. The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, is to launch an intensified campaign from Panchkula, Haryana in the presence of Shri Nayab Singh Saini, Chief Minister, Haryana, and Smt. Arti Singh Rao, Health Minister of Haryana.
The campaign underscores the government of India’s commitment to achieving the goal of end-TB by addressing the challenges of tuberculosis (TB) notification and mortality in India under the National TB Elimination Program (NTEP) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The initiative, set to be implemented across 347 districts in 33 States and Union Territories has been designed to enhance TB case detection, reduce diagnostic delays, and improve treatment outcomes, particularly in high-risk groups. It represents yet another significant strategic effort by the country in its bid to strengthen programmatic activities and reduce disparities in TB outcomes across diverse regions of the country to achieve the aim of TB elimination.
This initiative is in line with the vision of a “TB-Mukt Bharat” that was laid out by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, at the 2018 Delhi End TB Summit. Since then, critical initiatives have been launched by the program to strengthen prevention, diagnostic, and treatment services across the country.
The 100-day campaign envisages improving program performance on key output indicators viz. TB incidence rates, diagnostic coverage, and mortality rates. It also aligns with recent policy enhancements by the Ministry, including increased financial aid for TB patients, under the Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana, and inclusion of household contacts under the social support initiative, Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan.
Some of the key focus areas of the campaign are increasing access to advanced diagnostics, targeted screening among vulnerable groups, specialized care for high-risk individuals, and provision of expanded nutritional support. The initiative will leverage the vast network of Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs across the country that have taken TB services to the last mile.
Further details regarding the campaign will be available as the rollout progresses, reflecting the government’s commitment to reducing the burden of TB and improving public health outcomes nationwide.
If one thinks he/she has been exposed to someone with active TB disease, he/she should contact health care provider or local or state health department about getting a TB blood test or TB skin test. Be sure to tell the health care provider about the time spent with the person who has active TB disease.
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