CDC Reports Highest Number of Tuberculosis Cases in the U.S. in a Decade

Published: 29 March 2024 at 19:20

Health

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that the U.S. saw 9,615 tuberculosis cases in 2023, the highest in 10 years, with rates increasing among all age groups. Most cases were a result of latent TB infections, with about 13 million Americans estimated to have latent TB and not be contagious. Factors contributing to the rise include international TB surges, increased migration, weakened immune systems, and post-pandemic travel. Despite the increase, the U.S. has a lower rate of new TB cases compared to most countries, and efforts are underway to prevent and treat TB infections.

DEEP DIVE

Tuberculosis (Wikipedia)

Tuberculosis (TB), also known colloquially as the "white death", or historically as consumption, is an infectious disease usually caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, in which case it is known as latent tuberculosis. Around 10% of latent infections progress to active disease which, if left untreated, kill about half of those affected. Typical symptoms of active TB are chronic cough with blood-containing mucus, fever, night sweats, and weight loss. Infection of other organs can cause a wide range of symptoms.Tuberculosis is spread from one person to the next through the air when people who have active TB in their lungs cough, spit, speak, or sneeze. People with latent TB do not spread the disease. Active infection occurs more often in people with HIV/AIDS and in those who smoke. Diagnosis of active TB is based on chest X-rays, as well as microscopic examination and culture of body fluids. Diagnosis of latent TB relies on the tuberculin skin test (TST) or blood tests.Prevention of TB involves screening those at high risk, early detection and treatment of cases, and vaccination with the bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine. Those at high risk include household, workplace, and social contacts of people with active TB. Treatment requires the use of multiple antibiotics over a long period of time. Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem, with increasing rates of multiple drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB).In 2018, one quarter of the world's population was thought to have a latent infection of TB. New infections occur in about 1% of the population each year. In 2022, an estimated 10.6 million people developed active TB, resulting in 1.3 million deaths, making it the second leading cause of death from an infectious disease after COVID-19. As of 2018, most TB cases occurred in the regions of South-East Asia (44%), Africa (24%), and the Western Pacific (18%), with more than 50% of cases being diagnosed in seven countries: India (27%), China (9%), Indonesia (8%), the Philippines (6%), Pakistan (6%), Nigeria (4%), and Bangladesh (4%). By 2021, the number of new cases each year was decreasing by around 2% annually. About 80% of people in many Asian and African countries test positive, while 5–10% of people in the United States test positive via the tuberculin test. Tuberculosis has been present in humans since ancient times.

World Tuberculosis Day (Wikipedia)

World Tuberculosis Day, observed on 24 March each year, is designed to build public awareness about the global epidemic of tuberculosis (TB) and efforts to eliminate the disease. In 2018, 10 million people fell ill with TB, and 1.5 million died from the disease, mostly in low and middle-income countries. This also makes it the leading cause of death from an infectious disease.World TB Day is one of eleven official global public health campaigns marked by the World Health Organization (WHO), along with World Health Day, World Chagas Disease Day, World Blood Donor Day, World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, World Immunization Week, World Malaria Day, World No Tobacco Day, World Hepatitis Day, World Patient Safety Day and World AIDS Day.

Increase in Measles Infections In the United States Linked to International Travel

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns of 58 reported measles cases in 16 states in the U.S. so far this year, mostly among unvaccinated children aged 1 or older, with links to international travel. The CDC states that the current high population immunity reduces the risk of widespread spread, but pockets of low vaccination coverage pose a higher outbreak risk. Cases in at least three states were linked to visits to Florida, indicating early infections contributing to the virus uptick.

CDC warns of rising U.S. measles cases linked to international travel

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 58 confirmed cases of measles in the U.S. in 2024, matching the total for all of 2023. 93% of the cases were linked to international travel, with outbreaks in countries such as Austria, the Philippines, Romania, and the United Kingdom. The CDC emphasizes the importance of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccinations for all U.S. residents traveling internationally, especially children aged 12 months and older who have not yet received the vaccine.

Increase in Rare Bacterial Illnesses Leading to Meningitis and Death in the U.S.

U.S. health officials have issued an alert about an increase in cases of invasive meningococcal disease, with 143 cases reported this year and 422 cases reported last year, most affecting adults aged 30 to 60, Black individuals, and those with HIV. The bacteria causing meningitis can also lead to bloodstream infections with severe symptoms. Quick antibiotic treatment is vital as 10% to 15% of infected individuals may die. Vaccines are available, recommended for children entering middle school, with a booster at age 16 and for high-risk individuals like those with HIV.