Approximately a quarter of the world's population has latent tuberculosis. This means that 2 billion people are infected with tuberculosis bacteria but have not developed illness and cannot infect others. The likelihood of infected individuals eventually developing symptoms is 5-10%. Yet, the risk significantly increases if the immune immune system weakens due to HIV infection, poor diet, diabetes, or smoking. Moreover, tuberculosis is closely linked to social health determinants like migration, incarceration, and marginalization.

This is why tuberculosis vaccination has become an integral part of preventive vaccination schedules worldwide. In Belarus, healthy newborns are vaccinated against the disease between the 3rd and 5th day of life. It is an effective way to protect children from tuberculosis or significantly reduce complications in case they get infected.

Tuberculosis is treatable and can be overcome. In Belarus, the majority of newly diagnosed individuals are completely cured. Yet, the challenge lies in the fact that the disease can affect any organ, not just the lungs. Additionally, there are forms of tuberculosis that are sensitive or resistant to antibiotics. Therefore, an accurate and timely diagnosis is crucial to determine which tissues are affected, assess the severity of a patient's condition, and identify the most suitable treatment.