The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) will observe World Tuberculosis (TB) Day on Thursday, March 24, to raise awareness about the potentially life-threatening disease.

The state health department’s decision is in line with the World Health Organization (WHO), which is also commemorating World TB Day this Thursday by encouraging countries and organizations to “Unite to End Tuberculosis” in wake of increases in TB cases in 2015.

Last year, a total of 344 cases of TB took place in Illinois. It was the first year Illinois reported a rise in the number of TB cases since 2005. But, health officials said they were particularly worried about a single case of extensively drug resistant TB.

Dr. Nirav D. Shah, director of IDPH, said, “Extensively drug resistant TB means that most antibiotics used to treat one of the world’s deadliest diseases do not work. IDPH wants to raise awareness about TB so that people recognize it and know the importance of completing treatment.”

TB is a highly contagious disease that can easily transmit from person to person through the air when a TB patient coughs or sneezes. It can affect any part of the body but usually it affects the lungs and causes a persistent cough.

Health officials advise people with active TB are most likely to spread the germs to people they spend time with, such as family members and coworkers. General symptoms include weight loss, fever, fatigue and night sweats.