Cinnaminson, NJ, April 19, 2017
Each year, March 24
th is recognized as World Tuberculosis (TB) Day. The 24
th was chosen because it commemorates the date in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced his discovery of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes TB.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately one third of the world’s population is infected by the bacteria, but only a small percentage of infected people become sick. However, the WHO reports that TB is still one of the top ten causes of death worldwide. In the United States, over 9,500 TB cases were reported in 2015 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
When
Mycobacterium tuberculosis lives in the body without making a person sick, it is called latent TB infection. People with latent TB infection do not have any symptoms. Many people who have latent TB infection never develop the disease. Other people may get sick years later when their immune system becomes weaker.
For those who do develop TB disease, the bacteria usually attack the lungs, but it can attack any part of the body including the kidneys, spine and brain. The CDC states that symptoms of TB disease may include a bad cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer, pain in the chest, coughing up blood or sputum, weakness or fatigue, weight loss, no appetite, chills, fever and night sweats.
“
Mycobacterium tuberculosis can become airborne when an infected person coughs, sneezes, speaks or even sings,” said Jason Dobranic, Ph.D., Vice President of Microbiology and Life Sciences at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “This can occurs when a nearby person inhales the bacteria, which then leads to infection. This is why the transmission of TB can be a significant risk in healthcare environments and other places where many people share the same space for extended periods of time.”
Helping to stop the spread of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis are the air quality experts at EMSL Analytical, Inc. EMSL’s laboratory experts utilize highly sensitive real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) techniques to identify
Mycobacterium tuberculosis from air samples collected on special filter cassettes. EMSL also recently sponsored an educational video about
Mycobacterium tuberculosis and how it spreads that can be seen at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaQqQwsnHqw.
To learn more about microbial pathogen testing or other environmental and indoor air quality services, please visit
www.EMSL.com, email
info@EMSL.com or call (800) 220-3675.
About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical, Inc. is one of the leading testing laboratories with 40 locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria,
Legionella, USP <797>, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOC’s, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA LAP, LLC. (AIHA EMLAP, AIHA IHLAP, AIHA ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at
www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.