Source: Fox News
Summary
Tuberculosis (TB) cases have been rising in the US since the pandemic, with over 10,600 cases confirmed in 2024, the highest annual number since 2013. The disease is curable, but the recent increase is concerning, with latent TB infections that went undetected or untreated during the pandemic now activating. The uptick has strained healthcare systems, and local and state public health TB programs are understaffed. TB is spread through airborne particles and can affect any organ, but it causes disease in the lung in over 80% of cases.
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The advice sounds familiar.
TB cases have been rising, but the disease is curable and preventable. The recent increase is largely a rebound effect from the pandemic, with latent TB infections now activating. The uptick has strained healthcare systems, and local and state public health TB programs are understaffed. The disease can affect any organ, but it causes disease in the lung in over 80% of cases.
Latent TB, which causes no symptoms and is not contagious, can be treated and cured before it ever progresses to active TB, which is infectious.
The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening only for populations at increased risk rather than for the general population.
It’s a familiar pattern: a disease that’s been around for centuries, a rise in cases, and a reminder that prevention and treatment are key.
Author: Evan Null
