World Tuberculosis Day

What Is World Tuberculosis Day?

Every March 24th is "World Tuberculosis Day" (World TB Day). On March 24, 1882, the German physician and bacteriologist Robert Koch announced his discovery of the tuberculosis bacterium. In 1982, the 100th anniversary of the discovery, the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IUATLD) and others called for commemorative events, and in 1997 the World Health Organization (WHO) designated the day as World Tuberculosis Day. It is a day to recognize that tuberculosis is not a disease of the past but an infection that still claims many lives worldwide, and to work toward ending it.

The Discovery of the TB Bacterium and Medical Progress

The discovery of the tuberculosis bacterium opened the way to fighting TB, whose cause had been unknown, with science.

• Koch's achievements: Koch showed that specific bacteria cause specific diseases, and together with France's Louis Pasteur he is regarded as a founder of modern bacteriology. He received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1905.
• The BCG vaccine: In 1921, the BCG vaccine developed by the French scientists Calmette and Guérin was first used in humans. It is still used around the world to protect children from severe tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis Today

Tuberculosis spreads when people breathe in TB bacteria released into the air through coughs and sneezes.

• Infection and disease: Being infected with TB bacteria does not always lead to illness. The bacteria can remain hidden in the body, sometimes causing disease many years later.
• Finishing the medicine: Tuberculosis is curable with medicine, but treatment takes several months. Stopping medication partway can create drug-resistant bacteria, so "DOTS" (directly observed treatment, short-course), in which health workers confirm each dose, has been widely adopted.

Fun Facts About Tuberculosis

• Once a "national disease": From the Meiji era into the Showa era, tuberculosis was among the leading causes of death in Japan and was called a "national disease." Many famous people, including Masaoka Shiki and Higuchi Ichiyo, died of TB.
• Japan becomes a "low-incidence country": In 2021, Japan's rate of new cases fell below 10 per 100,000 people, making it a "low-incidence country" by WHO standards. Even so, around 10,000 people are still newly diagnosed with TB every year.
• A cough lasting two weeks or more: If a cough lasts more than two weeks, people are advised to see a doctor and consider the possibility of tuberculosis.
• The double-barred cross: The symbol of the anti-TB movement is a red "double-barred cross," derived from the Cross of Lorraine in France.
• Japan's TB prevention week: In Japan, September 24th to 30th is "Tuberculosis Prevention Week," set by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

Tips for Marking World Tuberculosis Day

• Review your health checkup results and confirm that you have had a chest X-ray
• Think about whether you or your family have been putting up with a lingering cough
• Read about the history of scientists who fought infectious diseases, such as Koch and Pasteur
• Set aside the assumption that TB is "a disease of the past" and learn the facts

A Day to Learn That TB Is Not a Thing of the Past

Tuberculosis once took many lives in Japan and remains a major global health challenge today. March 24th is a day to learn about the fight against TB that began with Koch's discovery, and to pay attention to your own health, such as a lingering cough.