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This podcast is presented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC - safer, healthier people.

In 1882, Robert Koch discovered a staining technique,
And about this great scientist, today we still speak.

It enabled him to see Mycobacterium tuberculosis,
And from this process we began to determine a diagnosis.

TST, chest x-ray, and drug susceptibility test,
In our days ahead, we didn't find much rest.

And sometimes we now wonder… MDR, XDR…what could it be,
We'll put our resources together to provide appropriate therapy.

Resistant to isoniazid, rifampin, and some fluoroquinolones,
We take this challenge, continue our efforts, we won't leave you alone.

Don't want you to complain of pills, lab tests, and all those injections,
We just want to protect you from a deadly co-infection.

A new vaccine, new drugs, and much more DOT,
We're short of our funding, but we hear your desperate plea.

Don't want you to sing the blues like they did in the days of old,
But we will be precise using QuantiFERON-TB Gold.

Don't want you to give up, lose hope, or stop fighting,
We'll examine the DNA with accurate Genotyping.

Don't want to hear you cry out, too late… too late… too late,
So we pledge to research, train, and educate.

Don't want to hear you moan, that old graveyard is a lonesome place,
Our efforts will be vigilant, and yes we'll run this race.

Don't want you to suffer from this terrible disease,
But want you to find comfort and your mind be at ease.

We'll gather statistics, RVCT reports, and surveillance data,
We'll do it now because Now is the Time, not later.

You may be from Africa, Asia, or Latin America,
We'll send out our troops, we'll come there, you betcha!

And yes, it is, a challenge to us you see,
But we will not stop until we Eliminate TB.

To access the most accurate and relevant health information that affects you, your family and your community, please visit www.cdc.gov.