TB is a contagious disease which has been under effective control in this State for many years. The germs are spread through coughing, sneezing, spitting and talking. This propels them into the air to be inhaled by other people.
Symptoms of the disease include sweating, fever, loss of weight and spitting blood.
Many people are infected with the inactive form of TB, but only a handful develop the active form. The active form can be treated effectively: in 1998, TB caused only six deaths out of 424 cases.
People whose immune systems are compromised - such as people with AIDS - are at greatest risk of developing the active form of TB.
TB was feared up to the 1950s in Ireland and killed large numbers. The late Dr Noel Browne is credited as the minister for health who introduced the programme which rid the country of significant levels of TB.
The Western Health Board region has the highest prevalence of TB (15.3 cases per 100,000 people), according to a breakdown of the 1998 figures. It is followed by the Mid-Western Health Board (14.8), Southern Health Board (14.3), Eastern Regional Health Authority (11.7), North-Eastern Health Board (9.5), North-Western Health Board (nine), South-Eastern Health Board (8.9) and Midland Health Board (4.9).