TB is of particular concern in low and middle-income countries, where people live in close contact with livestock.

Proposals follow a major consultation

Experts are calling for action to tackle the threat of tuberculosis (TB) infections that are passed from people from cattle.

Writing the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases, the group - which includes researchers from the University of Edinburgh - warn that failing to tackle the problem will thwart efforts to eradicate the disease.

They say efforts to monitor zoonotic TB should be stepped up worldwide and recommend expanding the use of improved diagnostic tools to gain accurate estimates of the number of people affected.


The proposals follow a major consultation organised by the World Health Organisation and the Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases.


Speaking ahead of the 47th Union World Conference on Lung Health, Dr Adrian Muwonge, - member of the EERA group in the Division of Genetics and Genomics, said:

“Two years ago the Union gave the zoonotic TB sub-section a mandate to develop a global awareness campaign on zoonotic TB, which we have successfully done. We are now taking the next steps to ensure global policy is formulated to cement clear priorities for tackling the disease”.

Usually spread through coughs and sneezes, TB infections in people are caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis. People can also become infected with the cattle strain of the bacteria - Mycobacterium bovis - from infected animals or by eating infected food.

Front line treatments for TB are not effective against the cattle strain and the bacteria can spread through food supplies like unpasteurised milk and dairy products.


The disease is of particular concern in low and middle-income countries, where people live in close contact with livestock.

In some developed countries, eradication programmes have reduced or eliminated TB in cattle and cases of the disease affecting people are rare.