Tyler, TX — The FDA approved the first new tuberculosis drug in forty years.

The approved drug is call Sirturo, a pill commonly known as Bedaquiline.

Tuberculosis is an ancient disease and after decades of research, new medicine has been shown to fight hard to treat strains of Tuberculosis.

Reports say, the bacteria usually attacks the lungs, but TB bacteria can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine and brain.

TB specialists tell KETK, the disease is more widespread than you'd think.

"TB affects one-third of our population, it kills approximately 1.4-million every year," says Teresa Nowland, Nurse and TB specialist.

Reports also say, Texas ranks third behind California and New York in TB cases.

"It's a major advance to in our ability to treat essentially untreatable cases of TB," says David Griffith, Pulmonary Medicine, Assistant Director of Heartland and TB Center.

Just like other medications there are side effects, a common side effect is heart problems, so you should be prescribed this medication carefully by doctors.

TB experts say, see if a doctor if you come in contact with someone who has tuberculosis, it's a contagious and deadly disease.