What is Tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis is an infection due to a bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. A tuberculosis vaccination is required to prevent or offset the likelihood of contraction.The symptoms includes fever, night sweats, lethargy, cough with blood stained sputum and weight loss. Sometimes, it causes no symptoms and can only be detected by investigation like chest x-ray. To become infected, one would have to spend a long time in a closed environment where the air was contaminated by an infected person who is coughing out the bacteria.
Tuberculosis is global epidemic disease, with one third of the world’s population being infected at some stage, mostly in the developing world. However, with protection in the form of a tuberculosis vaccination, it is not a major hazard for short term travellers.
Speak with a doctor about your eligibility for the tb vaccine prior to departure.
