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Trends in Tuberculosis, United States

How many cases of tuberculosis (TB) were reported in the United States in 2008

In total, 12,904 TB cases (a rate of 4.2 cases per 100,000 persons) were reported in the United States in 2008.  Both the number of TB cases reported and the case rate decreased; this represents a 2.9% and 3.8% decline, respectively, compared to 2007.  The TB rate in 2008 was the lowest recorded since national reporting began in 1953.

Is the rate of TB declining in the United States?

Yes. The TB rate has been going down in the United States each year since 1992.  However, progress has slowed in the recent years.  The average annual percentage decline in the TB rate slowed from 6.6% for 1993 through 2002, to an annual average decline of 3.4% for 2003 through 2008.

How do the TB rates compare between U.S.-born persons and foreign-born persons living in the United States?

In 2008, the TB rate in foreign-born persons in the United States (20.3 cases per 100,000 persons) was 10* times greater than that of U.S.-born persons (2.0 cases per 100,000 persons).  Also of note, 59% of all TB cases in the United States occurred in foreign-born persons in 2008.
* Ratio calculation is based on unrounded data values. 

How many people died from TB in the United States?

There were 644 deaths from TB in 2006, the most recent year for which these data are available.  Compared to 1996 data, when 1,202 deaths from TB occurred, this represents a 46% decrease in TB deaths in the last decade.

What are the rates of TB for different racial and ethnic populations†?

  1. American Indians or Alaska Natives: 6.0 cases per 100,000 persons
  2. Asians: 25.6 cases per 100,000 persons
  3. Blacks: 8.8 cases per 100,000 persons
  4. Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders: 15.9 cases per 100,000 persons
  5. Hispanics or Latinos: 8.1 cases per 100,000 persons
  6. Whites: 1.1 cases per 100,000 persons

† For this report, persons identified as white, black, Asian, American Indian/Alaska Native, native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, or of multiple races are all non-Hispanic. Persons identified as Hispanic may be of any race.

Is multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) on the rise?

Since 1993, when the TB surveillance system was expanded to include drug-susceptibility results, reported multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB* cases have decreased in the United States.  Among all reported TB cases in the United States, the percentage of primary MDR TB cases decreased from 2.5% (407 cases) in 1993 to 1.0% (86 cases) in 2008.

Since 1997, the percentage of U.S.-born patients with MDR TB has remained at 1.0% or less. However, of the total number of reported primary MDR TB cases, the proportion occurring in foreign-born persons increased from 25.3% (103 of 407) in 1993, to 76.7% (66 of 86) in 2008.

*Primary multidrug-resistant TB (MDR TB) is defined as no previous history of TB disease and is resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampin, the two best first-line TB treatment drugs.

How are TB data collected?

Data on TB cases are reported to CDC from 60 reporting areas, including the 50 states, the District of Columbia, New York City, Puerto Rico, and seven other U.S. jurisdictions in the Pacific and Caribbean. These cases must meet the CDC/Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists case definition. When cases are reported, specific information is provided about the person with TB. This includes the person’s race, ethnicity (either Hispanic or non-Hispanic), treatment information, and when available, drug-susceptibility test results. CDC calculates national and state TB rates, and rates for foreign-born, U.S.-born, and racial/ethnic populations. These calculations use U.S. census population estimates for the years 1993 through 2008.

Where can I find TB data for my state?

The most recent surveillance report, Reported Tuberculosis in the United States, 2008, has TB data from the 60 reporting areas. If you need additional state-specific data not available in this report, you can contact your state TB control office.

References

CDC. Reported Tuberculosis in the United States, 2008. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, CDC, October 2008.

Additional Information

CDC. Questions and Answers About TB.

CDC. The Difference Between Latent TB Infection and Active TB Disease.

CDC. Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR TB).

State TB Control Offices

Online Tuberculosis Information System (OTIS)
The Online Tuberculosis Information System (OTIS) is a query-based system containing information on verified tuberculosis (TB) cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

 

 
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USA.gov: The U.S. Government's Official Web PortalDepartment of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention   1600 Clifton Rd. Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
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