What's up, everybody? The book, Invincible Microbe: Tuberculosis, by Jim Murphy and Alison Blank, is a book about the history of tuberculosis and the cure for it. First of all tuberculosis (TB) is a small harmless-looking germ thats has been infecting people for millions of years. Right now, we get a shot so we don't get infected with TB, so it is rare for someone in the U.S to get TB. However, in Africa some people get TB. TB evolved from a tiny microorganism that lurked in the soil and water to what we call mycobacterium tuberculosis. 25,000 M. tuberculosis measures only an inch. M. tuberculosis grow slower than other bacteria. Also M. tuberculosis may look harmless but it is actually a very dangerous germ that is very contagious. Someone with M. tuberculosis in their lungs can cough up millions of bacteria into the air. M. tuberculosis can survive in many places in your body. For example, M. tuberculosis can survive in intestines, the lymph nodes, the skin, bones, joints, the brain... as you can tell there are many places where M. tuberculosis can survive, in fact it can survive in almost all organs and tissues in the human body! M. tuberculosis could kill someone in a matter of days and some people in years depending on where the M. tuberculosis is in your body. The first doctor to record information for his treatment was Dr. Peter Detteiler, but his treatment only cured 1 every 2 people. <--- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnimbqBx0Y4
This sounds like a cool book! The video adds a better understanding of the disease. This book sounds factual yet still interesting enough to keep reading. Are they still working on the cure for TB?
ReplyDeleteIt is a great book. Haha, yeah it was really interesting. And we do have a cure but TB could easily evolve and then we would have to find another cure.
ReplyDeleteCool! This seems really interesting! I like all the facts added into your blog, I think the part were you said TB could kill you in a matter of days, or years was really interesting (and a little scary). Can people still get TB in the U.S. or is it just really rare?
ReplyDeletepeople can get it still but it would be cured very quickly
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds like a pretty awsome book. I liked how you mentiond the places that tuberculosis can grow in your body. The video was also a very helpful also.
ReplyDelete