Tuberculosis and Asian Persons

Key points

  • Anyone can get tuberculosis (TB), but some groups have a higher risk for TB than others.
  • TB continues to affect Asian persons at a higher rate than other groups.
  • Several factors contribute to the higher rates of TB among Asian persons.
A happy Asian family laying on a bed laughing with parents and daughter in the middle hugging them

Health disparities

In the United States, TB adversely affects groups that have historically experienced greater obstacles to health, including Asian persons. Several important factors contribute to the higher rates of TB among some Asian persons.

TB disease affects Asian persons more than others.‎

In 2022, active TB disease was reported among 2,855 Asian persons in the United States. This accounts for 34.3% of all people reported with TB nationally.
Keep Reading: Tuberculosis Risk Factors

What CDC is doing

Achieving equity by addressing disparities‎

CDC is committed to improve the health of people experiencing a disproportionate burden of disease, disability, and death.
NCHHSTP Equity Initiative

To eliminate health disparities among TB and Asian persons, CDC:

  • Promotes the Think. Test. Treat TB. campaign to reach people most at risk for inactive TB, also known as latent TB infection, and their health care providers to encourage TB testing and treatment
  • Highlights the personal stories of people who were diagnosed and treated for TB, as well as the work of TB control professionals
  • Leads community engagement and outreach in communities at increased risk for TB, including Asian persons, through organizations such as the TB Elimination Alliance to increase knowledge, testing, and treatment of TB
  • Develops culturally and linguistically appropriate patient education materials with Asian communities, such as the Questions and Answers About Tuberculosis Booklet, which is available in multiple languages
  • Shares patient education materials for Asian communities through platforms like Find TB Resources
  • Compiles national reports of TB cases and TB case rates by gender, race and ethnicity, risk factors, and geographic location
  • Continues the work of two CDC research consortiums to
    • Examine more effective TB treatment options and
    • Study the risks for TB among persons with certain medical conditions
  • Engages health care providers to ensure they know about the latest TB diagnostics and treatment options available
  • Collaborates with national and international public health organizations to

Resources

The words "TB Elimination Alliance" are next to a graphic of lungs.

Tuberculosis Elimination Alliance (TEA)

TB Elimination Alliance is a national partnership of community leaders dedicated to TB elimination. ...

Think. Test. Treat TB

CDC’s “Think. Test. Treat TB.” campaign helps raise awareness of TB prevention.
A mother and daughter of Asian descent smile while looking at a phone.

Health Disparities in Asian People

Find information about how these diseases affect Asian populations.
Illustration of four interlocked puzzle pieces

NCHHSTP Equity Initiative

NCHHSTP's Equity Initiative's workplace culture, policies, and systems address health disparities.
CureTB graphic of world map shaped as lungs held in hands

CureTB Program

Learn more about CureTB and access referral forms.

Materials are available free of charge for order via CDC-Info On Demand Publications (see ordering instructions).

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Content Source:
Division of Tuberculosis Elimination ; National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention