Trends in Tuberculosis, 2020

"Tuberculosis (TB) is preventable and treatable, but too many people still suffer from TB.  

Ending TB will require a dual approach of maintaining and strengthening current TB control priorities, while increasing efforts to identify and treat latent TB infection, especially in populations at increased risk of TB disease. Healthcare providers, TB programs, and communities play an important role in ending TB in the United States.  

Progress toward TB elimination has slowed in recent years and the COVID-19 pandemic has strained public health services, including TB prevention and control services.

During 2020, the United States reported the lowest number of TB cases (7,174) and lowest incidence rate (2.2 cases per 100,000 persons) on record (TB Incidence and Mortality (Vital Statistics): 1953–2020).

Except for 2015, the U.S. TB case count and incidence rate have declined every year since 1992, but the drop in 2020 was much steeper than previous years.

The 2020 data reveal a substantial decline in the number of reported cases of TB disease in the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic has probably affected reported TB incidence in the United States in several ways, including a combination of  TB underdiagnosis and a true reduction in incidence. CDC is conducting additional analyses to better understand how the 2020 TB disease data compare with previous years.

Despite the decline in TB cases and incidence rates in the United States, our current strategies are not enough to achieve TB disease elimination in this century..."
Tuberculosis trends