Living With Tuberculosis: Learn The Facts Now!

History Of Tuberculosis

Most individuals are not familiar with the history of tuberculosis. Dr. Robert Koch first discovered the bacteria that causes the disease, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, on March 24th, 1882. He made his discovery at a time when approximately one of every seven individuals in Europe and the United States were stricken with the illness and died from it. Koch made important strides toward developing a treatment and eradicating tuberculosis. However, the earliest evidence of tuberculosis infection in individuals was dated back to around 3000 and 2400 BC in Egyptian mummies. It is even believed that Akhenaten and Nefertiti died of the disease. Further evidence points to hospitals specifically to treat tuberculosis existing in Egypt around 1500 BC.