This campaign targets pulmonologists and infectious disease specialists—the HCPs who diagnose, treat, and manage patients with NTM lung disease. Far too often, these physicians don’t include NTM in their differential diagnosis nor prioritize the treatment of this progressive rare disease, leaving patients suffering for years without answers or reprieve.

“Contagious” was inspired by the misdiagnosis journey of a real patient named Debbie. Even though Debbie didn’t know it at the time, NTM was causing her repetitive symptoms, especially her persistent cough. This made her feel isolated and alone, driving away her friends and family because they thought she was contagious.

The film is portrayed as a musical showing one day in Debbie’s life with undiagnosed NTM. At the beginning, Debbie can be seen preparing a meal for guests later that night. She has the help of many inanimate objects in her kitchen, which help her cook and set the table for the event. As the film progresses, Debbie’s cough gets worse and her friends, upon hearing her, decline the dinner invite. Distraught, Debbie laments about her unknown illness and how it has left her alone. The closing frames show the quote from Debbie that inspired the animation.