What is Tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis. TB is spread through the air when a person with active lung TB coughs, sneezes, or speaks. TB usually affects the lungs, but can also affect the lymph nodes, brain, kidneys or spine.
There are two forms of disease caused by TB, inactive or active TB. Inactive TB means the bacteria are present but inactive, causing no symptoms and not contagious. At least 90% of individuals infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis do not develop active disease. Active TB occurs when the bacteria multiply and cause illness, which can spread to others.
TB remains common in parts of Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Pacific. For most short-term Australian travellers, the risk is low, but it increases with long stays, close household contact, healthcare work, or time spent in high-prevalence settings.
According to the World Health Organisation, TB is the world's leading cause of death from a single infectious agent, with 1.23 million deaths from TB in 2024.
FAQs
Is tuberculosis a risk for Australian travellers?
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For most Australian travellers, the risk of tuberculosis (TB) is low, particularly when travelling short term to countries with low TB rates such as Western Europe, North America, and New Zealand.
Risk increases when travelling to countries where TB is more common, including parts of Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Pacific. Risk of transmission increases with visits over three months long, close interactions with local communities, healthcare or humanitarian work, or prolonged time in crowded indoor settings with poor ventilation.
A travel health consultation can assess your individual risk and advise whether testing or preventative measures are appropriate, especially if you are planning extended travel to a high-prevalence country.
How do travellers usually get tuberculosis?
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TB is spread through inhaling airborne droplets from a person with untreated active TB in their lungs. This usually occurs through prolonged close indoor contact with someone who has active infection. Brief casual contact, such as passing someone in public, carries very low risk.
Do I need a TB vaccine before travel?
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The tuberculosis vaccine is called BCG and has been used for many years in countries where TB is common. The vaccine does not reliably prevent someone from becoming infected with TB, but it does help protect young children from the most severe and life-threatening forms of the disease.
In Australia, where TB rates are low, BCG vaccination is not routinely recommended for most travellers. It may be considered for young children who will be living for extended periods in countries with high TB rates, particularly if they will have close contact with local communities. Some healthcare workers or people working in high-risk settings overseas may also be advised to consider vaccination.
In adults, the protection offered by BCG is variable and is less effective at preventing lung TB. Because your risk depends on your travel location and itinerary, specific travel health advice is recommended before deciding whether vaccination is appropriate.
Should I be tested for TB after travel?
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TB testing after travel is not routinely required for most Australian travellers. Testing is recommended if you had prolonged exposure in high-risk settings, such as working in healthcare facilities, prisons, refugee camps, or other crowded environments in high-incidence countries, or if you had close contact with someone diagnosed with active TB.
Testing is usually a blood test performed several weeks after potential exposure to allow time for the infection to become detectable.
What to Know
Tuberculosis symptoms
Tuberculosis (TB) most commonly affects the lungs, although it can involve almost any organ. Early symptoms may be mild and easy to miss, with symptoms progressing to a persistent cough lasting more than three weeks, chest pain, and sometimes coughing up blood or sputum. General symptoms can include fatigue, low-grade fever, night sweats, and unexplained weight loss.
TB can also affect organs outside the lungs, including lymph node swelling, back pain or deformity, and brain and kidney changes.
Latent TB infection means the bacteria are present but inactive. People have no symptoms and are not contagious, but the infection can reactivate later, particularly if the immune system becomes weakened.
Tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment
The diagnosis of tuberculosis can be made through clinical evaluation, laboratory tests including a sputum test showing Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and a chest x-ray or CT scan. Blood tests and the tuberculin skin test (TST) or interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) can identify latent TB infection.
Treatment depends on the type of TB. Active TB is treated with antibiotics taken daily for at least six months. These tablets need to be taken every day for the full course to ensure the infection is cured and prevent drug-resistant forms. Latent TB may be treated with a shorter course of preventative antibiotics to reduce the risk of developing active disease in the future.
Close monitoring by a healthcare professional is essential, as treatment can have side effects, including liver toxicity and allergic reactions.
Tuberculosis prevention
Tuberculosis (TB) prevention during travel focuses on reducing exposure to people with untreated active pulmonary TB, particularly in countries where TB is common. Travellers can lower their risk by avoiding prolonged close contact in crowded indoor environments such as clinics, hospitals, prisons, shelters, or shared accommodation in high-prevalence regions.
Good ventilation significantly reduces transmission risk. Spending time outdoors or in well-ventilated spaces is safer than remaining in confined indoor settings. In healthcare or high-risk occupational environments, appropriate respiratory protection and infection control measures should be followed in accordance with local guidelines.
For most Australian travellers, the overall risk of tuberculosis is low and routine BCG vaccination is not recommended. Pre-travel risk assessment is advised for those planning extended stays, working in healthcare or humanitarian roles, or travelling to countries with high TB incidence. In some cases, TB screening before and after travel may be recommended, particularly after prolonged exposure in high-risk settings.