The first International Gathering on TB was held in 1867, fifteen years before the TB bacteria was discovered by German Dr. Robert Koch. Other early TB gatherings include The International Congress on Tuberculosis held five times between 1899 and 1912.
The International Union against TB traces its origins to these early conventions of experts from around the world.
The first Conference of the International Union Against TB (IAUT) was held in 1920, Paris, where the IUAT was formed by 31 national TB associations; and the work continues today.
In 2020, an estimated 10 million people fell ill and 1.4 million died worldwide, and TB is present in all countries and age groups.
The Christmas Seal & Charity Stamp Society's own Governor and Director at Large, Dr. Dean Schraufnagel, MD, is past board member of both the IUAT (now called the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease IUATLD), and the American Lung Association.