TB Cases In The US Increase For First Time In 23 Years: CDC
Last year, the number of new tuberculosis cases increased for the first time since 1992, according to CDC reports.
For the first time in over 20 years, there seems to be a dip in the battle against tuberculosis cases in the U.S., said federal health officials. Hence, the number of TB cases has increased, rather than declining, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
For the first time since 1992, the U.S. has seen an increase in the new cases. Even though the overall increase of 157 additional cases does not look significant, it is indicative of a worrying trend in health management.
"It's always concerning when we see progress stall - especially when there are proven interventions to prevent a disease," said Tom Frieden, the CDC director.
According to the report, there were 9,563 TB cases reported last year. Most cases, at 66.2 percent, happened to foreign-born persons. Among the U.S. residents, Asians had the highest rate at 28.2 cases per 100,000. About 4,839 TB cases were reported in four states: California, Florida, New York and Texas.
While it is not clear why the reduction is not continuing, the decline in global funding might be impacting these rates. It is important that new, preventive measures need to be developed.
"We will need new and expanded efforts," CDC official Dr. Jonathan Mermin said.
The report added, "Resuming progress toward TB elimination in the United States will require intensification of efforts both in the United States and globally, including increasing U.S. efforts to detect and treat latent TB infection, strengthening systems to interrupt TB transmission in the United States and globally, accelerating reductions in TB globally, particularly in the countries of origin for most U.S. cases."
This contagious bacterial disease might complicate problems in patients who suffer from other diseases too. It can be latent too in some patients, who may be carrying the bacteria, though no symptoms are visible.
