World TB Day 2019

Dear Colleagues,

Each year we recognize World TB Day on March 24 with a variety of activities leading up to the official day.  This annual event commemorates the date Dr. Robert Koch announced his discovery of the bacillus that causes tuberculosis (TB).  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) joins our international partners by adapting the global Stop TB Partnership’s 2019 World TB Day theme: It’s Time. We would also like to request your participation in the following activities to highlight efforts to End TB across the United States:

• 2019 CDC U.S. TB Elimination Champions Project: This year, the Division of Tuberculosis Elimination (DTBE) is seeking photo submissions from organizations or individuals that represent their work and commitment to the “It’s Time to End TB!” mission. As such, we encourage submissions representing work across a wide spectrum of TB activities that organizations or individuals perform to end TB in their communities. Our aim is to elevate awareness of these activities with the use of high visual interest photos. To nominate a Champion, follow the instructions on the attached form. Nominations are due February 15, 2019.

World TB Day Social Media Photo Challenge: Share your own “It’s Time” message! Download the template, write your World TB Day message, and post on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Let’s spread the #EndTB message! Follow and tag us on Twitter @CDC_TB and Facebook @CDCTB World TB Day Activities Map: If you are planning an event around the 2019 World TB Day, we would like to add it to our map.  To add your event, follow the instructions on the attached World TB Day event form. We will gladly post and share these activities on the World TB Day section of the CDC/DTBE Website.

As we approach World TB Day, we will be adding additional resources and materials to the DTBE World TB Day Website.This webpage will continue to be updated with 2019 World TB Day information. 

We will keep you updated on any planned activities or links to information that may be helpful, and we strongly encourage you to develop specific state or local activities and/or special messages to take advantage of the press interest that World TB Day will stimulate. 

If you have questions, please call or e-mail your program consultant, or contact Sloane Bowman at wnv2@cdc.gov.

Thank you,

Nickolas DeLuca, PhD

Branch Chief, Communications, Education, and Behavioral Studies Branch

Division of Tuberculosis Elimination

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention