ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Every year, World Tuberculosis Day is observed on March 24. This marks the date a doctor first discovered exactly which bacteria was causing the disease, thereby paving the way toward diagnosis and treatment.
Tuberculosis is caused by a bacterial infection that commonly impacts the lungs, although it can also affect other areas including the spine, brain, or kidneys. The disease can be spread through coughing, sneezing, and talking.
History of Tuberculosis in New Mexico
In the late nineteenth century, some tuberculosis patients sought treatment in the form of the dry air, and plentiful sunshine found here in New Mexico. KRQE News 13 spoke with Richard Melzer, author of “Sanatoriums of New Mexico” and former University of New Mexico history professor, to find out more.
According to Melzer, there are a few different reasons people fled to New Mexico to try and find a cure. He confirmed one motivator was the good, clear air at a high altitude, although the other driving factors are a bit more complex…