Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. The infection usually attacks the lungs, but can attack parts of the body including kidneys, spine, and brain. If not treated active TB can be fatal.

The health department closely monitors individuals with latent TB disease and those with TB disease.

Latent TB Infection is when a person is infected with the TB ‘germ’ but doesn’t have active TB. Individuals with latent TB will not feel sick and are not contagious.

Treatment is needed so that active TB doesn’t develop.

A person with active TB disease usually feels sick and is highly infectous. This means it can be easily spread to others. Treatment is needed to treat the disease. If left untreated, TB can be fatal.