| What is it? |
TB is spread through the air from
one person to another. The TB bacteria
are put into the air when a person with
active TB disease of the lungs or throat
coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings.
People nearby may breathe in these
bacteria and become infected.
TB is NOT spread by
• shaking someone’s hand
sharing food or drink
• touching bed linens or
toilet seats
• sharing toothbrushes
• kissing |
| Who should get
tested? |
• Persons
should get tested for TB by their doctor
or local health department if they
• have spent time with a
person known or suspected to have active
TB disease; or
• have HIV infection or
another condition that weakens the
immune system and puts them
at high risk for active TB disease; or
• have symptoms of active TB
disease; or
• are from a country where
active TB disease is very common (most
countries in Latin
America and the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and
Russia); or
• live somewhere in the
United States where active TB disease is
more common such as a
homeless shelter, migrant farm camp, prison or jail, or some
nursing homes); or
• inject illegal drugs. |
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