Tuberculosis, also known as “TB” is a disease caused by bacteria that usually attacks the lungs. Despite being preventable and treatable, TB remains one of the top infectious disease killers worldwide. World TB Day is March 24th and commemorates the day that Dr. Robert Koch shared his discovery of the bacterium that causes TB, leading to advancements in diagnosing and treating TB. It is a day to remember the immense devastation that TB has had and continues to have worldwide, including Canada.

In honour of World TB Day, we chat with Dr. Jay Johnston, the Evaluation Lead for Provincial TB Services at the BC Centre for Disease Control, and the former Head of Respiratory Medicine Division at Vancouver General Hospital. Tune in to learn more about the history of TB, barriers to preventing TB, and emerging research in eradicating this disease.

Referenced links:

• Dr. Johnston is the President of the North American region of the International Union against TB and Lung Diseases (The Union). The Annual TB Conference was held in Vancouver this year from Feb 26 – March 1. You can view the conference presentations at bclung.ca/nar.
• For more information about TB and you can visit the World Health Organization’s website: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tuberculosis
• For information on how to support and advocate you can visit stoptb.org.
• Visit the BC CDC’s website for info on TB testing and tuberculosis clinics in the lower mainland: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/tuberculosis