Tuberculosis In Africa
Tuberculosis in Africa is second only to HIV/AIDS as a cause of illness and death of adults.
The darker the colour, the more prevalent the disease
- 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.
- 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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