How are TB germs spread?
TB is spread when a person who has active, untreated TB germs in their lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, laughs, or speaks, spreading their germs into the air. A person who breathes in TB germs usually has had very close, day-to-day contact with someone who has active TB disease. That’s why a person usually gets TB germs from someone he/she spends a lot of time with, like a family member, friend, or close co-worker who has the disease. TB germs can also be transmitted through eating or drinking contaminated, unpasteurized (raw) milk products produced in areas where Mycobacterium bovis is present in cattle. A person is not likely to get TB from someone coughing in the subway or at a restaurant. TB is not spread by sitting on a toilet seat or by sharing dishes, utensils, sheets, clothing or other inanimate objects.
