Reported Tuberculosis in the United States, 2022

"TB incidence appears to be gradually returning to prepandemic levels, but ongoing effects of the pandemic persist.

In 2022, reported TB cases and incidence rates (number of TB cases per 100,000 persons) in the United States increased for the second year in a row, but remained lower than levels reported prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Anyone can get TB, but some people are at greater risk of TB than others.

TB disproportionately affects some groups depending on various demographic, health, and social factors.

Birth outside of the United States remains a key risk factor for TB, with a TB incidence rate 17.1 times higher among non-U.S.–born persons compared with U.S.-born persons.

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Successful completion of treatment for TB disease is important to cure TB disease, prevent development of drug resistance, and minimize the risk of spread to others.

The national goal is for 95% of patients for whom 12 months or fewer of treatment is indicated complete treatment within 12 months. Although treatment completion rose from 63.4% in 1993 to 89.0% in 2020, the nation is still short of its 95% goal.

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Reported Tuberculosis in the United States, 2022 is available exclusively online.

Access detailed information by selecting the categories below, or through the List of Tables. For more information and a summary of the data, visit the Executive Commentary..."
Tuberculosis 

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 

World Tuberculosis (TB) Day

"World TB Day is observed every year on March 24. Learn how CDC is working for a TB free world.

World TB Day commemorates the date in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced his discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes TB. This year’s World TB Day theme “It’s Time to End TB” highlights the importance of a renewed commitment to TB and the need to expand testing and treatment of latent TB infection.

Despite being preventable and curable, TB is the world’s leading infectious disease killer. Two billion people – one fourth of the world’s population – are infected with latent TB, with more than 10 million becoming ill with active TB disease each year, including 1,100,000 children, and over 500,000 persons with drug-resistant TB.

TB affects millions around the world and here in the United States; in every state; in rural areas and cities; in schools, workplaces, homes; and in many other places where people are in close contact. Drug-resistance continues to threaten our ability to treat and manage TB disease. Better diagnostics, shorter treatment regimens, and strong partnerships both domestic and global, are needed to accelerate progress toward elimination. Learn what CDC is doing in the United States and around the world to eliminate this devastating disease.."
Tuberculosis

Burden of TB in the United States

"Too many people in the United States still suffer from TB disease. New 2018 TB surveillance data can help track progress toward elimination, and inform TB prevention and control activities.

Despite being preventable and curable, tuberculosis (TB) is the world’s leading infectious disease killer. TB affects millions around the world and here in the United States; in every state; in rural areas and cities; in schools, workplaces, homes; and in many other places where people are in close contact.

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 in high-risk populations. The United States continues to have one of the lowest TB case rates in the world, and the 2018 case count represents the lowest number of TB cases on record.  Still, too many people suffer from TB disease. Many TB survivors like Laura, Tenzin, and Kristi have shared their TB stories to help bring increased awareness to TB disease.

CDC works with state and local partners to achieve the goal of TB elimination in the United States.  One key activity is collecting TB surveillance data to track national progress toward elimination and to inform TB prevention and control activities.  The 2018 edition of Reported Tuberculosis in the United States marks a milestone as the first one to be published exclusively online, to help our audiences discover, view, and share content more easily..."
Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) Disease: Symptoms and Risk Factors

"Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by bacteria that are spread through the air from person to person. If not treated properly, TB disease can be fatal. People infected with TB bacteria who are not sick can take medication to prevent TB disease from developing in the future. Learn to recognize the symptoms of TB disease and find out if you are at risk.

Anyone Can Get TB

At first Shaka thought he had the flu. He had chills, was tired all the time, and had no appetite. After almost a month of night sweats, chest pain, persistent cough, and losing about 30 pounds, Shaka knew something was really wrong, and went to the doctor.

After several more weeks of doctor visits and exams, and worsening symptoms, he was admitted to the hospital. Eventually he was diagnosed with TB.

“And they came to me, and they said, we think you have tuberculosis. While I was laying there on the stretcher, I laughed as best that I could and told them that nobody gets tuberculosis. And they said, well, we think you have it,” says Shaka.

Mildred had a similar experience. It started with a cough and sore throat. She was initially diagnosed with strep throat and was given antibiotics. But the cough continued. She also began having night sweats and a fever. One night she was up all night coughing and couldn’t keep any food down. She knew something was very wrong and went to the hospital. After six months of uncertainty, she was finally diagnosed with TB.

“One of the main concerns I had when the diagnosis with TB was made was everybody else. As soon as you learn that you’re infectious, as soon as you learn that for the last 6 or 7 months you’ve been exposing everybody you see – and you’re thinking the Metro. You’re thinking your job, you’re thinking your family,” Mildred recalls.

Anyone can get TB. People with TB disease can be found in every state; in rural areas and cities; in schools, workplaces, homes; and in many other places where people are in close contact. Learn to recognize the symptoms of TB disease and find out if you are at risk..."
Tuberculosis

Treating Latent TB infection

"Learn about how CDC is expanding efforts to eliminate tuberculosis (TB) through new updated treatment recommendations for latent TB infection.

Treating Latent Tuberculosis (TB) Infection Prevents TB Disease

Treatment of latent TB infection is essential to controlling and eliminating TB in the United States because it substantially reduces the risk that latent TB infection will progress to TB disease. Up to 13 million people in the United States have latent TB infection. Without treatment, they are at risk for developing TB disease in the future. Treatment greatly reduces this risk.

Several treatment regimens are available for the treatment of latent TB infection. These regimens are equally effective; however, clinicians should prescribe the more convenient shorter regimens, when possible. Patients are more likely to complete shorter treatment regimens..."
TB Infection

Tuberculosis (TB) Disease: Symptoms and Risk Factors

"Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by bacteria that are spread through the air from person to person. If not treated properly, TB disease can be fatal. People infected with TB bacteria who are not sick may still need treatment to prevent TB disease from developing in the future. Learn to recognize the symptoms of TB disease and find out if you are at risk.

Anyone Can Get TB

At first, it felt like a bad cold. Then came a constant cough and night sweats. After going to the hospital for what she thought was severe pneumonia, Nicole was soon diagnosed with TB. “I didn’t really understand very much about TB at all, and I didn’t realize at that time that anyone can get it,” Nicole says.

Thomas had a similar experience. When he started feeling sick his doctors diagnosed him with pneumonia. A couple of months later he was still having night sweats, didn’t have an appetite, and felt extremely tired all the time. At his next hospital visit he had a chest x-ray and was told he had TB.

“Most people think that, okay, it’s out here but it will never happen to me. I know people are still testing for it but I didn’t think it was big enough to reach me,” says Thomas.

Anyone can get TB. People with TB disease can be found in every state; in rural areas and cities; in schools, workplaces, homes; and in many other places where people are in close contact. Learn to recognize the symptoms of TB disease and find out if you are at risk..."
Tuberculosis

Burden of TB in the United States

"Although tuberculosis (TB) is preventable and curable, many people in the United States still suffer from this disease. Persons with TB disease can be found in every state; in rural areas and cities; and in schools, workplaces, and many other places where people are in close contact. TB bacteria usually attack the lungs, but can also attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain. Not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick. As a result, two TB-related conditions exist: latent TB infection and TB disease. If not diagnosed and treated properly, TB disease can be fatal. One of CDC’s roles in addressing TB in the United States is to collect surveillance data and use that data to influence strategies to eliminate TB.."
Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis Contact Investigations — United States, 2003–2012

"Mycobacterium tuberculosis is transmitted through the air from an infectious patient (index patient) to other persons (contacts) who share space. Exposure to M. tuberculosis can result in tuberculosis (TB) disease or latent TB infection (LTBI), which has no clinical symptoms or radiologic evidence of disease. The cycle of transmission can be ended by isolating and treating patients with TB disease, examining contacts, and treating LTBI to prevent progression to TB disease. CDC systematically collects aggregate data on contact investigations from the 50 states, the District of Columbia (DC), and Puerto Rico. Data from 2003–2012 were analyzed for trends in yields from contact investigations, in terms of numbers of contacts elicited and examined and the estimated number of TB cases averted through treatment of LTBI among contacts in 2012. During 2003–2012, the number of TB cases decreased, while the number of contacts listed per index patient with contacts elicited increased. In 2012, U.S. public health authorities reported 9,945 cases of TB disease (1) and 105,100 contacts. Among these contacts, 84,998 (80.9%) were examined; TB was diagnosed in 532 (0.6%) and LTBI in 15,411 (18.1%). Among contacts with LTBI, 10,137 (65.8%) started treatment, and 6,689 (43.4% of all contacts with LTBI) completed treatment..."
Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis in the United States: 2013

Find the latest statistics on the of tuberculosis cases reported in the United States.
Tuberculosis

Trends in Tuberculosis -2013

"In 2013, a total of 9,588 new tuberculosis (TB) cases were reported in the United States, with an incidence rate of 3.0 cases per 100,000 population, a decrease of 4.2% from 2012 (1). This report summarizes provisional TB surveillance data reported to CDC in 2013. Although case counts and incidence rates continue to decline, certain populations are disproportionately affected. The TB incidence rate among foreign-born persons in 2013 was approximately 13 times greater than the incidence rate among U.S.-born persons, and the proportion of TB cases occurring in foreign-born persons continues to increase, reaching 64.6% in 2013.."
Tuberculosis

Reported Tuberculosis in the United States: 2012

"Reported Tuberculosis in the United States, 2012 presents summary data for tuberculosis (TB) cases verified and counted in 2012..."
Tuberculosis

Tubercclosis in the United States: 2012

Find the latest statistics on tuberculosis in the United States.
Tuberculosis in the U.S.

Trends in Tuberculosis — United States, 2010

"In 2010, a total of 11,181 tuberculosis (TB) cases were reported in the United States, for a rate of 3.6 cases per 100,000 population, which was a decline of 3.9% from 2009 and the lowest rate recorded since national reporting began in 1953 (1). This report summarizes provisional 2010 data from the National TB Surveillance System and describes trends since 1993..."

Reported Tuberculosis in the United States: 2010

"In 2010, the reported number of TB cases decreased slightly from the previous year. In 2010, there were 11,182 reported TB cases (3.6 cases per 100,000 persons) compared to 11,537 reported TB cases from 2009. TB case totals are now at the lowest number recorded since national reporting began in 1953. Yet, even though reported TB cases reached all-time lows in the United States, there are still disproportionately higher rates of TB among racial/ethnic minorities, especially U.S.-born blacks. TB rates are higher for some racial and ethnic groups, probably because a greater proportion of people in these groups have other risk factors for TB..."