Which of the following statements is incorrect?

Correct option is D

Sol. Exposure to tuberculosis (TB) does not guarantee that a person will develop active TB. Many people develop latent TB infection, meaning the bacteria stay in the body in an inactive state and do not cause symptoms or spread. Only a small percentage (~5–10%) of latent TB cases progress to active TB over their lifetime. Thus, statement (d) is scientifically incorrect.
Explanation of each option:
· (a) Tuberculosis is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis – Correct. This is the causative organism of pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB. It was discovered by Robert Koch in 1882.
· (b) People who are exposed to TB may or may not develop the disease – Correct. Exposure may lead to latent infection, not always active disease. Factors like immunity, nutrition, and comorbidities matter.
· (c) Persons with latent TB infection are not infectious and cannot spread infection to others – Correct. Latent TB patients are asymptomatic and do not expel bacteria into the air.
· (d) Every individual who is exposed to TB develops the disease – Incorrect. Only a small percentage of exposed individuals develop active TB; hence this statement is false.