Characteristics of TB Recent Transmission: 2023–2024

About

This table describes the characteristics of tuberculosis (TB) disease cases attributed and not attributed to recent transmission during 2023-2024.

Key Highlights

  • During 2023–2024, the percentage of cases attributable to recent transmission among U.S.-born persons (33%) was nearly five times the percentage among non-U.S.–born persons (7%).
  • The percentage of cases attributed to recent transmission decreased with increasing age, from 58% among children 0–4 years old to 4% among adults ≥65 years old.
  • Higher percentages of cases attributable to recent transmission were observed among persons reporting substance use, homelessness, and incarceration.

Data Table

Characteristics of Tuberculosis Cases Estimated to be Attributed to Recent Transmission: United States, 2023–2024

CDC describes cases of TB disease attributed and not attributed to recent transmission during 2023-2024.
Characteristics Total cases1 Cases attributed to recent transmission2 Cases not attributed to recent transmission
No. (%) No. (%)
Total 14,648 1,804 (12.3) 12,844 (87.7)
Origin of birth3
U.S-born 3,105 1,023 (32.9) 2,082 (67.1)
Non-U.S.–born 11,468 772 (6.7) 10,696 (93.3)
Unknown or missing 75 9 (12.0) 66 (88.0)
Sex
Male 5,266 599 (11.4) 4,667 (88.6)
Female 9,363 1,201 (12.8) 8,162 (87.2)
Unknown or missing 19 4 (21.1) 15 (78.9)
Race and ethnicity4
Hispanic or Latino 5,350 736 (13.8) 4,614 (86.2)
American Indian or Alaska Native 156 93 (59.6) 63 (40.4)
Asian 4,723 167 (3.5) 4,556 (96.5)
Black or African American 2,620 506 (19.3) 2,114 (80.7)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 245 81 (33.1) 164 (66.9)
White 1,210 193 (16.0) 1,017 (84.0)
Multiple race 185 16 (8.6) 169 (91.4)
Other race 116 8 (6.9) 108 (93.1)
Unknown or missing 43 4 (9.3) 39 (90.7)
Age group (years)
0–4 147 85 (57.8) 62 (42.2)
5–14 179 66 (36.9) 113 (63.1)
15–24 1,666 290 (17.4) 1,376 (82.6)
25–44 4,791 697 (14.5) 4,094 (85.5)
45–64 3,837 489 (12.7) 3,348 (87.3)
≥65 3,993 174 (4.4) 3,819 (95.6)
Unknown or missing 35 3 (8.6) 32 (91.4)
Disease site
Pulmonary only 10,981 1,427 (13.0) 9,554 (87.0)
Extrapulmonary 1,754 136 (7.8) 1,618 (92.2)
 Both 1,872 238 (12.7) 1,634 (87.3)
Unknown or missing 41 3 (7.3) 38 (92.7)
Sputum smear
Positive 7,515 941 (12.5) 6,574 (87.5)
Negative 5,812 684 (11.8) 5,128 (88.2)
Not done 1,094 143 (13.1) 951 (86.9)
Unknown or missing 227 36 (15.9) 191 (84.1)
Cavitary disease5
Yes 5,979 761 (12.7) 5,218 (87.3)
No 8,289 998 (12.0) 7,291 (88.0)
Unknown or missing 380 45 (11.8) 335 (88.2)
Experiencing homelessness6
Yes 1,006 201 (20.0) 805 (80.0)
No 13,400 1,587 (11.8) 11,813 (88.2)
Unknown or missing 242 16 (6.6) 226 (93.4)
Excess alcohol use6
Yes 1,150 253 (22.0) 897 (78.0)
No 13,245 1,526 (11.5) 11,719 (88.5)
Unknown or missing 253 25 (9.9) 228 (90.1)
Injecting drug use
Yes 149 43 (28.9) 106 (71.1)
No 14,235 1,728 (12.1) 12,507 (87.9)
Unknown or missing 264 33 (12.5) 231 (87.5)
Noninjecting drug use6
Yes 1,175 379 (32.3) 796 (67.7)
No 13,213 1,393 (10.5) 11,820 (89.5)
Unknown or missing 260 32 (12.3) 228 (87.7)
Current or former smoker
Yes 4,412 678 (15.4) 3,734 (84.6)
No 8,931 950 (10.6) 7,981 (89.4)
Unknown or missing 1,305 176 (13.5) 1,129 (86.5)
Resident of correctional facility7
Yes 413 98 (23.7) 315 (76.3)
No 13,996 1,683 (12.0) 12,313 (88.0)
Unknown or missing 239 23 (9.6) 216 (90.4)
HIV status
Positive 635 93 (14.6) 542 (85.4)
Negative 12,664 1,576 (12.4) 11,088 (87.6)
Refused 178 18 (10.1) 160 (89.9)
Not offered 146 15 (10.3) 131 (89.7)
Unknown, missing or indeterminate 1,025 102 (10.0) 923 (90.0)
Diabetes
Yes 3,652 310 (8.5) 3,342 (91.5)
No 10,871 1,486 (13.7) 9,385 (86.3)
Unknown or missing 125 8 (6.4) 117 (93.6)
Non-HIV immunosuppression8
Yes 1,132 99 (8.7) 1,033 (91.3)
No 13,155 1,679 (12.8) 11,476 (87.2)
Unknown or missing 361 26 (7.2) 335 (92.8)
Multidrug-resistant TB9
Yes 205 15 (7.3) 190 (92.7)
No 13,716 1,681 (12.3) 12,035 (87.7)
Unknown or missing 727 108 (14.9) 619 (85.1)

1Total number of M. tuberculosis genotyped cases eligible to be evaluated for recent transmission (i.e., complete data for the plausible-source case method).

2A case is attributed to recent transmission if a plausible source case can be identified in a person who had an M. tuberculosis isolate with the same wgMLSType that differed by ≤5 single nucleotide polymorphisms, had an infectious form of TB, was 10 years of age or older, resided within 100 miles of the case, and was diagnosed within 2 years before the case.

3Persons born in the United States, certain U.S. territories, or elsewhere to at least one U.S. citizen parent are categorized as U.S.-born. All other persons are categorized as non-U.S.–born.

4Persons who identified as Hispanic or Latino were categorized as "Hispanic," regardless of self-reported race. Persons who did not identify as Hispanic or Latino were categorized by self-reported race; if more than one race was reported, the person was categorized as "Multiple race."

5Evidence of cavitation on any chest imaging (X-ray, computed tomography [CT], magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], or positron emission tomography [PET]).

6Within 12 months prior to TB diagnostic evaluation.

7At the time of TB diagnostic evaluation.

8Includes tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF) inhibitors, post-organ transplantation, immunosuppressive therapy, and other immunosuppressive medical conditions such as malignancy.

9Starting in 2023, information on drug resistance included results of molecular drug susceptibility testing in addition to growth-based susceptibility testing for isoniazid and rifampin. An isolate is considered resistant to isoniazid or rifampin if either the growth-based test or molecular test detects resistance.

Notes

Data for all years are updated through July 10, 2025.