Every human being carries the tuberculosis bacterium

the verdict

REFUTED

the evidence says no

Recorded sources

0 sources for · 5 against

Counts group repeated records of the same source within each side. They do not measure evidence strength or source independence.

Is it true that every human being carries the tuberculosis bacterium?

No. The claim that every human being carries the tuberculosis bacterium is false. Epidemiological data show that while tuberculosis and latent infections affect a significant portion of the global population, the vast majority of individuals do not carry the bacterium.

Verdict: REFUTED · 0 sources for, 5 against · Last checked 4 Aug 2026

The analysis

The claim is a specific, empirical assertion about whether every human carries Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Global epidemiological studies and prevalence data consistently show that infection rates range from roughly 10% to 25% regionally and globally, meaning the vast majority of people do not carry the bacterium. The claim is therefore clearly refuted by the retrieved literature.

Evidence against · 5

Evaluation of concordance of new QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus platforms for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection diagnosis in a prospective cohort of household contacts

2024

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Ruiz-Tagle, C., García, P., Hernández, M., & Balcells, M. (2024). Evaluation of concordance of new QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus platforms for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection diagnosis in a prospective cohort of household contacts. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.00469-24

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More against · 4

The Prevalence of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Infection in Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

2024

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Said, B., Mohamed, A. H., Eltyeb, E., Eltayeb, R., Abdalghani, N., Siddig, B., Ahmed, A., Ali, A. B. E., & Alhazmi, A. H. (2024). The Prevalence of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Infection in Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44197-024-00274-w

Latent tuberculosis infection in China, 1990-2050: GBD-informed projections for age-targeted screening.

2025

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QQ, J., XY, Z., SX, L., X, Y., YD, L., W, P., & J, X. (2025). Latent tuberculosis infection in China, 1990-2050: GBD-informed projections for age-targeted screening.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1691385

Latent tuberculosis: Epidemiology, diagnostic and treatment challenges in Nigeria

2024

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AE, O., M, E., IP, O., S, O., & A, A. (2024). Latent tuberculosis: Epidemiology, diagnostic and treatment challenges in Nigeria. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.61386/imj.v17i3.496

Analysis of the current status and influencing factors of latent tuberculosis infection among new students in Taishan District in 2025.

2026

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H, B., J, Z., X, L., X, Y., Y, S., X, L., & Y, R. (2026). Analysis of the current status and influencing factors of latent tuberculosis infection among new students in Taishan District in 2025.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1836962

Related receipts

Is it true that tuberculosis affects only the lungs? REFUTED related question, same topic

What does the evidence say?

Receipt History

first checked04 Aug 2026

judged → REFUTED · 604 Aug 2026

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