What is the communicability status of untreated active tuberculosis?

Untreated active tuberculosis (TB) is indeed communicable, which is why the selected answer is accurate. When a person has active TB, the bacteria can be present in their respiratory secretions, and the disease can be spread to others through the air when the infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. This airborne transmission is critical to understand, especially in public health contexts, as it highlights the need for effective isolation and treatment of individuals diagnosed with active TB to prevent further spread of the disease.

Understanding the nature of communicability in untreated active TB is vital for controlling potential outbreaks and implementing necessary public health measures. For example, individuals who are not symptomatic or who are on appropriate treatment are significantly less likely to transmit the disease, which supports the importance of timely diagnosis and management in individuals with TB.