My Father has TB, what are the chances I will catch it from him?

It is possible, but there are some important points to know:

• Close contact with someone with infectious TB in the lungs or throat is required.
• 60% of healthy adults’ immune systems can completely kill off the bacteria if they do breathe it in.
• TB is not spread through spitting, shared surfaces of sharing objects such as cups and cutlery.

Your chances of catching TB from someone you are close to depends on what type of they have been diagnosed with. Prolonged close contact with someone with infectious TB is usually required. TB can affect any part of the body but can only be infectious when active in the lungs or throat.

TB is a bacterium. It is not spread in the same way as a cold virus. It cannot be spread through spitting, shared surfaces of sharing objects like cups and cutlery.

60% of healthy adults have an effective enough immune system to completely kill off the bacteria, if they breathe it in, presenting no further harm. About 30% of people’s immune systems do not kill off the bacteria completely but control the infection enough for it to remain dormant or latent. Only 10% of these latent cases later develop into active illness, meaning 90% do not.

TB is not as highly infectious as many think. While TB can affect anyone, it is more likely to affect those with poor nutrition and poor general health.