Preliminary data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National TB Surveillance System show that although tuberculosis (TB) reached an all-time low in the United States in 2010, TB continues to significantly affect many communities, including racial/ethnic minorities, foreign-born individuals, and persons living with HIV. In 2010, a total of 11,181 TB cases were reported in the United States. The rate declined 3.9% from 2009 to 2010, to 3.6 cases per 100,000 people. Despite declines, TB rates for all racial/ethnic minorities were higher than those of whites, with TB rates 7 times higher for Hispanics, 8 times higher for blacks, and 25 times higher for Asians. More TB cases were reported among Hispanics than any other racial/ethnic group. The TB rate for foreign-born individuals was 11 times higher than that of those born in the United States. TB poses a particular risk to people living with HIV, and according to available data, nearly 9% of people with TB were also infected with HIV. Drug resistance, which makes cases of TB more difficult and costly to treat, continues to pose a threat to TB control in the United States. In 2009, approximately 1.3% of TB cases were multidrug resistant (113 total cases). One case of extensively-drug resistant TB has been reported to date in 2010. The authors of this report note that additional steps are needed to accelerate progress against TB and guard against resurgence of the disease.
(Source: CDC, March 24, 2011)
