Tuberculosis - United States, 2016

Abstract

In 2016, a total of 9,287 new tuberculosis (TB) cases were reported in the United States; this provisional* count represents the lowest number of U.S. TB cases on record and a 2.7% decrease from 2015 (1). The 2016 TB incidence of 2.9 cases per 100,000 persons represents a slight decrease compared with 2015 (-3.4%) (Figure). However, epidemiologic modeling demonstrates that if similar slow rates of decline continue, the goal of U.S. TB elimination will not be reached during this century (2). Although current programs to identify and treat active TB disease must be maintained and strengthened, increased measures to identify and treat latent TB infection (LTBI) among populations at high risk are also needed to accelerate progress toward TB elimination.

FIGURE

Tuberculosis (TB) incidence overall and among U.S.-born and foreign-born persons — United States, 2002–2016 * U.S.-born persons are those persons who were born in the United States or a U.S. island area or were born abroad to a U.S. citizen parent or parents. All others, including naturalized U.S. citizens, are considered foreign-born persons.