World TB Day 2005

Today is World TB Day. Why today? Because 123 years ago today Dr. Robert Koch presented his discovery that TB was caused by infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Most people in the USA do not realize that 8000 people die every day of TB. One third of the worlds population is infected with M. tuberculosis. World TB Day is intended to promote awareness, knowledge, and motivation for action against TB worldwide. World TB Day 2005 pays tribute to public health systems’ staff, nurses, laboratory technicians, NGO volunteers, prison clinicians, private medical practitioners, pharmacists, academics, students, cured patients and, in some instances, family members and other ordinary people concerned about the well-being of others. Without them, the achievements of the past 10 years would not have been possible, without them further progress will be impossible.