[Music] tuberculosis also known as TB is one of the oldest human diseases dating back thousands of years unfortunately TB still causes nearly one and a half million deaths annually in the world TB has had a devastating history in Alaska with Alaska native people suffering the worst TB is an infectious disease that commonly affects the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body including the bones in the brain people with TB of the lungs often have a prolonged cough other symptoms include unexplained weight loss fatigue fevers night sweats and coughing up blood the good news is that if TB is diagnosed antibiotics can cure the infection but treatment generally takes six to nine months so it's important to take the medications as directed even if you're feeling completely well incomplete courses of treatment can cause drug-resistant infections anyone can get TB but because it's symptoms are similar to other diseases it can be easy to miss if health care providers aren't accustomed to looking for TB the US has set the goal of elimination of T V with more awareness and the continued hard work of health care professionals that goal may someday be a reality you [Music]