Updated · University of Minnesota Twin Cities · May 2
CDC says large US TB outbreaks slightly decline from 2017 to 2023
Updated
Updated · University of Minnesota Twin Cities · May 2
CDC says large US TB outbreaks slightly decline from 2017 to 2023
3 articles · Updated · University of Minnesota Twin Cities · May 2
Researchers identified 50 outbreaks across 23 states, causing 1,092 of 61,993 TB cases, after a May 4 correction clarified this was a net decrease of one annual case versus 2014-2016.
Outbreak cases disproportionately involved US-born people, children, younger adults, and those reporting substance use, homelessness or incarceration, with about two thirds linked to family and social networks.
The CDC said outbreaks remained geographically widespread, including in lower-incidence states, and called for genomic surveillance, local outbreak control and targeted community partnerships; six large outbreaks were reported in 2024.
With new rapid gene sequencing, why are large TB outbreaks still accelerating across the United States?
Is America's TB comeback a medical failure or a crisis of homelessness and addiction?
Tuberculosis Resurgence in the U.S. 2023: A 15.6% Case Increase Demands Urgent Public Health Action
Overview
In 2023, the United States experienced a significant tuberculosis resurgence, reporting 9,633 cases—a 15.6% increase from 2022—and an incidence rate rise to 2.9 per 100,000 persons. This surge was driven by COVID-19 pandemic disruptions that delayed TB diagnosis in 2020, creating a backlog of undiagnosed cases that fueled increased transmission through 2021 to 2023. Social vulnerabilities like substance use, homelessness, and incarceration amplified spread within family and social networks, accounting for two-thirds of outbreaks. Additionally, overcrowded congregate settings such as correctional facilities and homeless shelters contributed to about one-quarter of outbreaks. Together, these factors reversed prior progress and highlight urgent needs for strengthened TB control efforts.