TB 101 For Health Care Workers

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Lesson 1: Introduction

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TB in the United States (1/6)

Page 8 of 20

TB disease was once the leading cause of death in the United States. After the discovery of drugs that could treat TB in the 1950s, death rates began to drop dramatically.

 

The United States has one of the lowest TB case rates in the world, thanks to investments in domestic TB control activities.

 

But too many people in the United States still suffer from TB disease.

 

Even today, TB is still a problem in the United States!

We must continue to find and treat cases of TB disease AND test and treat persons with latent TB infection to prevent future cases of TB disease.

A line chart showing the progress towards TB elimination in the U.S. for each year from 1982 through 2020

Progress Towards TB Elimination, United States, 1982–2020

TB data from 2020 reveal a substantial decline in the number of reported cases of TB disease in the United States.