How to reduce your risk for Tuberculosis [TB]

According to Healthline, reducing your exposure to people who have active TB is one way to reduce your risk, but this isn’t always possible. In line with a publication on Healthline, here are ways to reduce your risk for tuberculosis:

1. If you’re going to be travelling to a foreign country where tuberculosis continues to be a serious public health challenge, get up-to-date information about travel warnings or vaccination requirements from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

2. Try to avoid crowded places if possible when travelling to areas with a high prevalence of TB. Other ways to reduce your exposure include:

3. Always keep your room well-ventilated. Tuberculosis bacteria tend to spread faster in more confined spaces with less outside air.

4. If you have contracted the disease, stay home for several weeks or months after you have started TB treatment.

5. There is a tuberculosis vaccine called the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine. Therefore, you can try to get vaccinated. It’s more commonly used in countries with a higher rate of TB among babies and children.

6. If you’re at increased risk for TB, BCG may help reduce your risk.