Hopping into a cool air-conditioned cab on a hot day (which is everyday) in Thailand, can be a life saver.

The latest threat to cab riders in the Kingdom is tuberculosis.

The top man at Thailand’s National Association for the Elimination of TB has acknowledged that a study is currently being conducted about TB in the Kingdom of Thailand.

It is estimated that over 90 thousand new cases of TB are reported each year in Thailand.

To help ease the mind of travelers, taxi cabs are going forward with a campaign to let riders know that their cabs are TB-free.

Taxi stands that have a TB-Free Zone sticker are being used for easy identification.

All the talk and fuss came about after two taxi drivers in Thailand were found to be infected with TB by the National Association for the Elimination of TB.

Street vendors will also be studied.

TB is quite common and it is deadly.

It most often is caused by mycobacterium that settles in the lungs, but it can affect other parts of the body, including a person’s central nervous system.

Mycobacterium can also cause leprosy.

TB can easily be spread through the air. Just think about the confined areas that you experience in your daily routine year after year. Airplanes, busses, subways, trains, and the list goes on. Since it is an airborne bacterium, there is little to stop it, especially since you can’t see it.

In just one year, someone who is currently suffering from TB can infect 10 to 15 other people during the course of a year and not even know that they are doing so.

The shocking part is that about 25 percent of all cases are reported to be drug-resistant, which means that taking a prescription doesn’t necessarily result in success.

About 5 to 7 thousand people in Thailand die of TB each year.

There’s no need to panic, but you should be aware of what is possibly in the air.

The study by the National Association for the Elimination of TB should be concluded in the year 2010.

In most cases, a 6 month prescription of drugs can cure the infected person.

Thailand is a wonderful country, but it is a Third-World country with visitors from all around the globe visiting each year.

Since I live here, I personally feel no less safe than if I were living in Los Angeles or New York; in fact, I feel safer.