Tuberculosis In Africa

Tuberculosis in Africa is second only to HIV/AIDS as a cause of illness and death of adults.

Tuberculosis In Africa Map

The darker the colour, the more prevalent the disease

Tuberculosis Facts

Tuberculosis is caused by tubercle bacilli.
Tuberculosis most commonly affects the lungs.
Tuberculosis is spread from person to person via droplets in the air from coughing or sneezing. On rare occasions, it is spread via contaminated milk in the tropics.
TB can only be caught from someone who already has the disease.

Tuberculosis Symptoms

Symptoms in active TB may start within a few weeks to many years after the initial infection.
Fever and a chronic cough with production of sputum which may be blood-stained.

Summary For African Travellers and Hunters

For those travelling and hunting in high-risk areas, BCG vaccination is recommended.
After vaccination a small ulcer develops on the skin at the injection site which may take several weeks to heal.
Conversion to a positive skin test and development of immunity occurs about 6 weeks after vaccination, so vaccination must be done well before departure.

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