Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB (short for tubercle bacillus) is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body. It is spread through the air when people who have an active MTB infection cough, sneeze, or otherwise transmit their saliva through the air.
By Susan Scutti | May 15, 2013 01:43 PM EDT
Although 2013 statistics show a narrowing gap between countries with the best and worst overall health status, WHO's director-general is not entirely optimistic.
By Justin Caba | Mar 29, 2013 12:00 PM EDT
Political icon Nelson Mandela was admitted to the hospital this past Wednesday after being diagnosed with his second lung infection in three months.
By Matthew Mientka | Mar 18, 2013 05:16 PM EDT
Long used by police to test motorists for intoxication and by doctors screening for a variety of health problems, researchers say breath devices may now measure stress. Two compounds in breath (2-methy, pentadecane and indole)increased following inducement of stress in the experiments.
By Jonathan Weiss | Feb 22, 2013 10:08 AM EST
In the deadliest outbreak in a decade, 80 people have been confirmed infected and 11 have died since 2007.
By Jonathan Weiss | Feb 05, 2013 01:32 PM EST
The first new TB vaccine in 90 years was shown to have little effect in protecting children who had received it.
By Makini Brice | Jan 14, 2013 11:26 AM EST
Researchers in South Africa believe that they may have found a new avenue toward fighting the deadly disease.
By Makini Brice | Jan 11, 2013 11:32 AM EST
A new study has found that a recently developed breath test may cut down the time of a tuberculosis test from weeks to minutes.
By Makini Brice | Jan 02, 2013 04:39 PM EST
The majority of people infected with the tuberculosis live with no symptoms and die of other causes. Researchers have discovered why, and hope that their finding will lead to a new vaccine.
By Amber Moore | Jan 02, 2013 03:16 PM EST
FDA approved Sirturo (bedaquiline) to treat multiple drug resistant tuberculosis in adults when all other treatments fail.
By Makini Brice | Nov 23, 2012 01:47 PM EST
Ten years ago, WHO developed a policy that targeted the strains of tuberculosis that were easiest to cure. That policy, however, gave rise to the deadliest and most drug-resistant strains.
By Julie Steenhuysen | Oct 17, 2012 10:26 AM EDT
The number of people in the world newly infected with tuberculosis fell again last year, dropping by 2.2 percent.
By Kate Kelland | Sep 19, 2012 09:09 AM EDT
Cuts in global funding for Eastern Europe and Central Asia are undermining the fight against tuberculosis (TB) and the AIDS virus, threatening to push already high rates of disease and drug-resistance even higher.
By Amber Moore | Sep 11, 2012 12:07 PM EDT
A drug that costs just two cents for a daily dose can treat tuberculosis, even a drug-resistant form of the disease, new research says.
By Nikki Tucker | Sep 04, 2012 11:24 AM EDT
According to Dr. Adrian Martineau, of the Queen Mary University of London, vitamin D can be a useful extra weapon in combating tuberculosis.
By Kate Kelland | Aug 30, 2012 09:11 AM EDT
Scientists have found an alarming number of cases of the lung disease tuberculosis in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America that are resistant to up to four powerful antibiotic drugs.
