Tuberculosis is relatively rare in the United States

Tuberculosis isn't usually a newsworthy disease, but lately this air-born illness is getting more than its fair share of press.

When young Atlanta, Ga., lawyer Andrew Speaker flew to Europe and back for his honeymoon, little did he know it would cause a major international incident. Speaker has a dangerous form of the lung disease tuberculosis. Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a bacteria that lives and breeds in the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body, such as the brain, kidneys, or the spine.

TB is spread through the air, released when a person with an active form of the disease coughs, sneezes, sings, or speaks.

The bacteria that cause TB can stay alive in the air for several hours, depending on the environment. People who then breathe in the TB germs can become infected.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 8.8 million people worldwide are infected with TB, with about 1.6 million cases proving fatal every year.

In developed countries like ours, TB is relatively rare, thanks to readily available medications and modern health care facilities.

In fact, the CDC (Center for Disease Control) reports that there are only about 14,000 cases of tuberculosis reported in the U.S. every year. However, since TB can be latent in the body for quite some time before symptoms develop, some people are unaware that they have the disease.

When symptoms are present, they include a thick, mucousy or bloody cough, chest pain, feelings of weakness and general malaise, fever and night sweats.

Perhaps one of the most famous TB sufferers is Dr. John Henry "Doc" Holliday. This famous gambler/dentist was one of the fastest and most reckless gunmen in the West. Many blamed his recklessness and fatalistic outlook on his illness, for back then TB outcomes were generally very poor.

Now there are a number of very effective medicines available that can cure TB, or greatly limit its severity. What makes Speaker's case unique is that he has a rare and difficult strain of tuberculosis — called XDR TB. This strain has proven drug-resistant and may require surgery to eliminate the disease from the lungs.

People who are at risk are those who spend prolonged periods of time in close quarters with individuals with an active infection. Family members are in particular danger, since they are most at risk of breathing in contaminated air. Also at risk are people with compromised immune systems such as those who are undergoing chemotherapy, people with HIV/AIDS, or other immunity-weakening conditions.

Hospitals are particularly aware of the dangers of tuberculosis and other air-born diseases. Healthcare workers are routinely tested for TB. TB testing is a relatively simple process; a small amount of the dead bacteria is injected under the skin. If there is a visible skin reaction, then the person may have been exposed to tuberculosis. Masks, gloves and other protective measures help prevent the spread of infection in a healthcare setting.

TB can be prevented by avoiding close contact with people who are known to have an active infection. If you are concerned about contracting TB through close contact with an infected individual, speak to your physician about getting tested.

For people who have been diagnosed with tuberculosis, the most important thing to remember is to take TB medication exactly as it is prescribed. This allows the best chance for the medications to completely eliminate the bacteria from the body.

Andrew Speaker may be in for quite a long stay in hospital isolation, however, the rarity of his strain of the disease and the quick reactions of government officials should help ease the minds of the general public.