Tuberculosis FACT SHEETS

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TB transmission

How is TB spread?

Photo credit: Corbis Benson

Tuberculosis (TB) germs (bacteria) are spread from person to person through the air. When someone with active, infectious TB disease of the lungs or airways breathes out (or coughs, sneezes, sings, plays a wind instrument or sometimes even just talks), tiny droplets containing TB germs are released into the air. These droplets can stay in the air for hours. If you breathe in these droplets, TB germs will get into your lungs. You cannot get infected with TB by shaking hands, sitting on a toilet seat or sharing dishes with someone who has active, infectious TB disease.

How contagious is TB?

TB is not as contagious as other diseases, such as the flu or chickenpox. To get infected, you would usually have to spend many hours every day with someone with infectious TB disease. If you live in overcrowded housing with poor air circulation, you may be more at risk of getting latent TB infection.

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