Key points
- Anyone can get tuberculosis (TB), but some groups have a higher risk for TB than others.
- TB continues to affect Black or African American persons a higher rate than other groups.
- Several factors contribute to the higher rates of TB among Black or African American persons.
Health disparities
In the United States, TB adversely affects groups that have historically experienced greater obstacles to health, including Black or African American persons. Several important factors contribute to the higher rates of TB among some Black or African American persons.
TB disease affects Black or African American persons more than others.
In 2023, TB disease was reported among 1,697 non-Hispanic Black or African American persons in the United States. This accounts for 17.6% of all people reported with TB nationally.
Keep Reading:
Tuberculosis Risk Factors
What CDC is doing
Achieving equity by addressing disparities
The National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention (NCHHSTP) developed an Equity Initiative to optimize synergies between the Center's existing equity activities, and to support the identification of additional strategic opportunities to embed equity into the fabric of NCHHSTP's workplace operations and public health programs.
To eliminate TB health disparities among Black or African American persons, CDC:
- Highlights the personal stories of Black or African American people who were diagnosed and treated for TB.
- Leads community engagement and outreach in communities at increased risk for TB, including Black or African American persons, through organizations such as the TB Elimination Alliance to increase knowledge, testing, and treatment of TB.
- Shares patient education materials for Black or African American communities through platforms like Find TB Resources.
- Compiles national reports of TB cases and TB case rates by gender, race and ethnicity, risk factors, and geographic location.
- Continues the work of two CDC research consortiums to examine more effective TB treatment options and study the risks for TB among persons with certain medical conditions.
- Engages health care providers to ensure they know about the latest TB diagnostics and treatment options available.
- Collaborates with national and international public health organizations to improve TB screening of immigrants and refugees and test recent arrivals from countries with high rates of TB disease.
Resources
TB Elimination Alliance is a national partnership of community leaders dedicated to TB elimination.
Think. Test. Treat TB aims to increase awareness and understanding about inactive tuberculosis.
Find information about how these diseases affect Black or African American populations.
NCHHSTP's Equity Initiative is a long-term strategy designed to achieve equity.
Learn more about CureTB and access referral forms.
Materials are available free of charge for order via CDC-Info On Demand Publications (see ordering instructions).