Stop Tuberculosis in Your Lifetime (1)

August 01, 2025

Each year, the World Health Organization recognizes March 24 as World TB (Tuberculosis) Day. This day is a world-wide initiative that is steered by the Stop TB Partnership. World TB Day is designed to increase awareness of tuberculosis, a disease that causes death in millions of people worldwide each year. The theme for this year is: Stop TB in my lifetime.

There continues to be a number of active TB cases in Waterloo Region diagnosed each year. Between 2006 and 2010, there were 73 active cases of TB reported to Region of Waterloo Public Health. Local incidence rates are lower than provincial rates.

Tuberculosis is a bacterial disease that usually affects the lungs, but can involve other parts of the body. It can be spread through close, prolonged or regular contact with someone with the TB disease in their lungs or throat who is coughing or sneezing. Your chances of becoming infected are higher if you are from, or travel to countries where TB is common. Symptoms can include: weakness, fever, night sweats, weight loss; cough, chest pain, coughing up blood when TB is in the lungs; or body pain.

What you can do to Stop TB in your lifetime:

  • Learn more about TB, reduce the stigma, add your voice to the campaign, visit www.mystoptb.org
  • If you have recently been exposed to TB or are presenting signs and symptoms get screened (medication is FREE)
  • If you are travelling, talk to a physician or travel nurse about your risk for exposure to TB

World TB Day Activities

Region of Waterloo Public Health, along with many of its partners, employs a variety of strategies designed to prevent, control and monitor Tuberculosis in Waterloo region. This year for World TB Day, Public Health has updated the TB section of its website and fact sheets for the public; in addition Public Health has mailed over 300 World TB Day packages to physicians.

Together, Tuberculosis is Preventable, Treatable and Curable

For more information call the Region of Waterloo Public Health Tuberculosis Control Program at 519-883-2272 or visit our Tuberculosis information pages.

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Media Contact: Chad Ludwig, Interim Manager, Infectious Disease and TB Control, 519-883-2006 x5288