Tuberculosis is transmitted through the air.
The transmission of tuberculosis primarily depends on understanding its causative agent, which is the tubercle bacillus, also known simply as the tuberculosis bacillus. The main source of infection in tuberculosis is from patients who test positive for tuberculosis bacillus in their sputum. The respiratory tract is the principal route of transmission for tuberculosis patients. When patients who test positive for bacillus in their sputum cough, expel sputum, sneeze, or even speak loudly, they generate a large amount of droplets containing the tuberculosis bacillus. These bacteria can remain suspended in the air for a relatively long time. In poorly ventilated indoor environments, they may stay airborne for up to five hours. Healthy individuals can contract respiratory infections upon inhaling these bacteria. Furthermore, a very small portion of patients are infected through consuming milk or other dairy products from cows with tuberculosis.
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