World Tuberculosis Day observed on 24th March.

Why in news?

• World Tuberculosis Day is observed every year on 24 March to create awareness among the public about the global epidemic of tuberculosis (TB) and efforts to eliminate the disease.
• The date marks the day in 1882 when Dr Robert Koch announced that he had discovered the bacterium that causes TB, which opened the way towards diagnosing and curing this disease.
• The theme of World TB Day 2022 – ‘Invest to End TB. Save Lives.’–conveys the urgent need to invest resources to ramp up the fight against TB and achieve the commitments to end TB made by global leaders.

About Tuberculosis

• Tuberculosis (TB) is a potentially serious infectious disease that mainly affects your lungs.
• The bacteria that cause tuberculosis are spread from one person to another through tiny droplets released into the air via coughs and sneezes.
• Tuberculosis can also affect other parts of your body, including your kidneys, spine or brain.
• When TB occurs outside your lungs, signs and symptoms vary according to the organs involved. For example, tuberculosis of the spine can cause back pain, and tuberculosis in kidneys might cause blood in the