TB is mainly an airborne disease. The bacteria are spread from person to person in tiny microscopic droplets, nuclei. These droplets are 1–5 microns in diameter. These droplets (nuclei) travel through the mouth or nasal passages and move into the lung.

 

• When people with TB cough, sneeze, speak, sing, laugh or even talk, the germs spread into the air.  People breathe in these germs and there is a chance that they will become infected. Only people with active TB can spread the disease to others.

 

• A person has to be close to someone with tuberculosis disease for a long period of time to become infected with TB.