Health Matters: U.S. Tuberculosis Cases

In health matters, there is good news for Americans as World Tuberculosis Day approaches. Tuberculosis is an infectious bacterial disease that can be lethal. Some call it a lung disease spreadable by air. And well, TB cases in the US fell to an all-time low in 2011, but there’s still cause for concern. Overall, TB rates fell last year to a little more than three cases for every 100,000 people in the U.S. That’s the lowest it’s ever been since the CDC first started recording number back in 1953. The bacteria continues to infect foreign-born and those with HIV in disproportionate amounts. The TB rate was12 times higher among people born outside the U.S. last year. With more than half the cases originating in five countries: Mexico, the Philippines, Vietnam, India and China. Nearly half of all TB cases in the U.S. can be found in California, Texas, New York and Florida. You can see the entire report in this week’s CDC’s “Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.” It was released to coincide with World Tuberculosis Day, which is orrow, Saturday. Reporting on Health Matters, I’m Jessica Solis.