CDC Warns Large Tuberculosis Outbreaks Doubled in US Since Mid-2010s
Large tuberculosis outbreaks in the U.S. have doubled from 2017 to 2023, with 50 identified outbreaks across 23 states, according to CDC data. Most outbreaks occurred in close-contact settings and disproportionately affected U.S.-born individuals with social risk factors like homelessness and substance use. The CDC emphasizes the need for improved genomic surveillance and targeted public health interventions to control transmission.
- ▪The CDC identified 50 large TB outbreaks from 2017 to 2023, up from 24 between 2014 and 2016.
- ▪Nearly 80 percent of outbreak-associated cases were in U.S.-born individuals, compared to 26 percent in the overall TB population.
- ▪Outbreak-linked TB cases were more likely to involve substance use, homelessness, or incarceration.
- ▪Two-thirds of large outbreaks occurred in family or social networks, often in private homes or settings with substance use.
- ▪Children and adults aged 25 to 44 were disproportionately affected in outbreak settings.
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By Hollie SilvermanDeputy Weekend EditorShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberSee more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.Large tuberculosis (TB) outbreaks in the country have surged sharply in recent years, doubling between 2017 and 2023, according to new data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.Researchers identified 50 large outbreaks—defined as 10 or more related cases within a three‑year period—across 23 states, up from just 24 outbreaks recorded from 2014 to 2016.The outbreaks accounted for 1,092 cases out of nearly 62,000 TB cases reported during the seven‑year period. While the U.S.
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