FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Eduardo Calderon, M.D., 251-318-1355
Claire Payne, 334-206-9429
Tuberculosis (TB), a transmissible disease, spreads through the air. When a person with TB coughs, sneezes, or even breathes normally, the TB-causing agent is released and can be inhaled by people nearby. Everyone is susceptible to infection, and the disease can be fatal. On the other hand, TB is preventable and curable when patients receive adequate treatment and support. TB most often affects the lungs.
TB is present in all countries and age groups. In 2024, an estimated 10.7 million people fell ill with TB worldwide, including 1.2 million children, and 1.23 million people died from the disease. Since its scientific discovery in 1882, over 1 billion people have died from TB. In 2025, 528 Alabama residents were diagnosed with TB infection, most of whom received well-tolerated treatment that prevented progression to TB disease. Another 89 Alabama residents were diagnosed with TB disease and received treatment.
World TB Day is observed annually on March 24 to raise awareness and understanding of TB, as well as of its devastating health, social, and economic impact on affected people. The ultimate goal is to eliminate TB as a public health threat.
On World TB Day 2026, international TB organizations are calling for action to transform global ambition and commitment to end TB. In Alabama, this effort is led by regional TB experts and powered by coordinated action. Significant progress has been made in diagnosing and treating TB, and the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) Division of TB Control incorporates the latest advances in planning effective interventions to control TB and its transmission. ADPH provides TB services, including diagnosis, treatment, case management and contact investigation, to all persons in Alabama, regardless of ability to pay. ADPH also works to ensure the initiation and completion of preventive therapy for those contacts diagnosed with TB infection without disease.
To significantly reduce TB incidence, mortality and sequelae, ADPH conducts TB screening initiatives using evidence-based strategies, disseminates up-to-date information for healthcare workers across the state, and seeks to deliver education to communities most at risk.
Unfortunately, TB patients are often stigmatized, mainly due to the fear of transmission, and because of TB’s links with HIV, poverty, malnutrition or social conditions. TB patients frequently must endure both the physical pain and diminished health caused by the disease as well as the social sequelae of stigma.
According to Dr. Eduardo Calderon, Physician Director, “Community engagement and education, early TB diagnosis and post-TB treatment healthcare are fundamental elements for mitigating the impact of the disease; equally important is eliminating associated stigma and discrimination toward vulnerable populations.”
Celebrating World Tuberculosis Day is not just about acknowledgment; it also involves actively participating in knowledge dissemination, mobilizing resources, and fostering collaboration among communities and health educators. By emphasizing education and awareness, engaging community leaders, and promoting collaborative efforts, communities can make substantial strides toward overcoming TB. Claire Payne, director of the Division of TB Control at ADPH, said, “Our goal is to educate, treat, and eliminate the spread of TB in Alabama.”
On World TB Day, join the Division of TB Control in wearing red to raise awareness about TB.
To view educational videos and other TB resources, please visit Tuberculosis Resources.
For more information about TB, visit ADPH's Tuberculosis page or call 334-206-5330.
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3/23/26
County health departments throughout Alabama provide a wide range of confidential and professional services. Contact your local county health department for additional information.
Mission: To promote, protect, and improve Alabama’s health
Vision: Healthy People. Healthy Communities. Healthy Alabama.