World TB Day is a day to bring public awareness on TB, the deadliest infectious disease in the world. It is held every year on March 24th, to commemorate the day Dr. Robert Koch announced the discovery of mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes TB. World TB Day is a day to acknowledge the presence of the disease and increase efforts to eliminate it.

Each year on World TB Day, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Tuberculosis Control Program conducts special activities to bring awareness to TB.

This year, in 2026, our program:

• Participated in the global “Light Up the World” campaign by lighting Los Angeles City Hall and Union Station in red, the symbolic color of TB.
  
  
• Collaborated with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to pass a motion to Proclaim March 24th as World Tuberculosis Day in Los Angeles County.
• Coordinated with Service Area Planning (SPA) 2 Community and Field Services team to conduct a targeted TB testing event on April 2, 2026 for persons who may be at risk of silicosis and TB co-infection.
• Developed a World TB Day social media post that was shared across Department of Public Health social media pages.
  
  
  
  
  
• Distributed a countywide press release to highlight World TB Day, the new California TB screening law, and Los Angeles County’s commitment to TB prevention and control.
• Recognized the East Los Angeles Health Center Group Clinical Pharmacists with the Brian Kozaczka Recognition Award for their outstanding work providing LTBI treatment.
• Recognized the Southern California Regional Community of Practice to End TB (CoP) and the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) for the California Tuberculosis Controllers (CTCA) 2026 TB Elimination Heroes award.