Tuberculosis Program

How is TB spread?

When someone with active TB disease in the lungs or throat coughs, sings, or even speaks, TB bacteria can be released into the air. TB bacteria can stay in the air for hours. If someone else breathes in the TB bacteria, this is called “TB exposure.” After being exposed to TB, people can get either latent TB infection (LTBI) or active TB disease.

• TB is spread by breathing in TB bacteria that someone with TB has coughed into the air.
• TB is not spread by contaminated articles or food.
• TB can not be killed by air fresheners.