Tuberculosis made its first big appearance during immigration in the 19th century. Tuberculosis is easy to spread; coughing, sneezing, and close proximity to the sick, are all ways TB is spread. Due to the poor living conditions and high mortality rate during ship immigration to begin with, the spread of TB skyrocketed on the way over to the United States.
Although the conditions of the ships during immigration end at the destination, in some countries, these living conditions are a way of life, and are a cesspool for the deadly bacteria that cause TB. People live in one-room homes, and the close proximity to the coughing, sneezing, and human excretion leads to a quick spread of the disease; as does the crowded public transportation. There are usually no isolation or quarantine methods, and when there are, there are very few supplies and locations where the disease can successfully be isolated or treated. Malnutrition lowers the immune system and causes people to be more susceptible to TB.
Even with TB treatment available, antibiotic-resistant strains have emerged. This is due to the overuse and misuse of drugs that allow the mutation of the bacteria. The drugs also cause some side effects, which cause many people to not complete the drug treatment. The consequences of these bacterial mutations are devastating. TB is now both MDR and XDR, and it spreads just as easily, which can eventually lead to a new rise of TB world-wide.
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