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Where did tuberculosis come from?: Tuberculosis has been around for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptian mommies have been found to contain the germ that causes TB. There is no way to exactly pinpoint tuberculosis’s origin. Although, history shows that it has moved along with mankind for quite some time and that it does not derive from animals like many other infectious/communicable disease causing agents.

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Tuberculosis Control & Elimination - History

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1. Who discovered TB?: The agent that causes TB (mycobacterium tuberculosis) was discovered by Dr. Robert Koch in 1882.

2. Where did tuberculosis come from?: Tuberculosis has been around for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptian mommies have been found to contain the germ that causes TB. There is no way to exactly pinpoint tuberculosis’s origin. Although, history shows that it has moved along with mankind for quite some time and that it does not derive from animals like many other infectious/communicable disease causing agents.