Tuberculosis, also known as TB, is a disease caused by bacteria called mycobacterium tuberculosis. This bacteria most commonly attacks the lungs, but it can attack any part of the body, including the kidneys, spine and brain.
If not treated properly, tuberculosis disease can be fatal. At one time, tuberculosis was the leading cause of death in the United States.
Tuberculosis is spread through the air from one person to another. The bacteria is put into the air when a person with active tuberculosis disease of the lungs or throat coughs or sneezes, and people in the vicinity may inhale the bacteria, becoming infected.
The Harvey County Health Department provides tuberculosis skin tests to identify if an individual has a tuberculosis infection or disease. We also provide education, support, treatment and monitoring of patients. We can also notify individuals potentially exposed to an active tuberculosis case.
More information about tuberculosis symptoms and testing is available through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
