1942 — Tuberculosis, all forms                                                                                       –57,690

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 7-11-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

— 57,690  US Bureau of Census. Vital Statistics of US 1942 — Part II…Mortality. 1944, p. 192

Narrative Information

 Centers for Disease Control on Tuberculosis: “Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but TB bacteria can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain. Not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick. As a result, two TB-related conditions exist: latent TB infection (LTBI) and TB disease. If not treated properly, TB disease can be fatal.

“TB bacteria are spread through the air from one person to another. The TB bacteria are put into the air when a person with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, speaks, or sings. People nearby may breathe in these bacteria and become infected.

“TB is NOT spread by:

Shaking someone’s hand.

Sharing food or drink.

Touching bed linens or toilet seats.

Sharing toothbrushes

Kissing.

“When a person breathes in TB bacteria, the bacteria can settle in the lungs and begin to grow. From there, they can move through the blood to other parts of the body, such as the kidney, spine, and brain.

“TB disease in the lungs or throat can be infectious. This means that the bacteria can be spread to other people. TB in other parts of the body, such as the kidney or spine, is usually not infectious.

“People with TB disease are most likely to spread it to people they spend time with every day. This includes family members, friends, and coworkers or schoolmates.” (CDC. Tuberculosis (TB). 3-20-2016 update.)

CDC: Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is a vaccine for tuberculosis (TB) disease. This vaccine is not widely used in the United States. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Vaccines / TB.”)

Tennessee State Library and Archives. Disasters in Tennessee: “Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease and was greatly feared well into the 20th century. Frequently called “consumption,” TB was often fatal. By 1943 it was the No. 3 cause of death in Tennessee. The “White Plague,” so named because of its strikingly pale victims, carried a social stigma similar to that of AIDS in recent years. …residents fought the location of a TB hospital in their neighborhood, claiming that property values would plummet.

“Tuberculosis is a contagious lung disease (though it can attack other parts of the body) spread through the air. It is highly controlled today with early detection and antibiotics. Around 1900, the average hospital stay for a TB patient was three years.

“…former President Andrew Jackson died of tuberculosis.” (Tennessee State Library and Archives. Disasters in Tennessee. “Epidemic Scourges in Tennessee.” Nashville.)

Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tuberculosis (TB). 3-20-2016 update. Accessed 10-16-2018 at: https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/basics/default.htm

United States Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce. Vital Statistics of the United States 1942 — Part II: Natality and Mortality Data for the United States Tabulated by Place of Residence. Washington: GPO, 1944. At: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsus/VSUS_1942_2.pdf