A recent government report has revealed that the number of US tuberculosis cases in 2023 is the highest in a decade
As per the latest reports shared by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention, the rates of tuberculosis have increased among all age groups. The analysis has found a 16% increase from the data collected in 2022 and the current number of cases is the highest since 2013.
The New Found Tuberculosis, Latent TB, is Non-Contagious
According to Dr. Philip LoBue, the director of CDC’s Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, though the CDC officials were already expecting the number of cases to rise, the 2023 count was a little more than anticipated.
The number of cases was less during the early pandemic, but it has been skyrocketing since. As per the latest finding, TB comes second after COVID-19 in terms of ineffectual fatal diseases worldwide. the condition is caused by bacteria that attach to the lungs and is effortlessly spread through the air when the affected person sneezes or coughs. The condition may take the life of a person if not treated properly.
As estimated, 85% of the people examined in 2023 were diagnosed with cough or other symptoms at least a year or two and were diagnosed with something that is called latent TB. Though the destruction is the same, the latent TB is found to be non-contagious, however, experts estimate as many as 12 million Americans have tested positive for latent TB.
It is commonly seen in people born in a different country as migration and travel increased dramatically after the pandemic. However, not everybody gets tuberculosis unless their immune system is weak. Individuals with weak immune systems easily allow TB infection to emerge into their bodies. In some rare cases, though infected, TB present in a person’s body does not show any symptoms unless their immunity is affected due to any high-dose medications or other health conditions such as HIV, or, diabetes.
In other words, anything that can lower your immune system can put you at high risk. Nicole Skaggs, a property manager in Bothell. Washington said she was infected with TB in 2020, but the symptoms were not seen until she got sick from COVID-19. Following this revelation, the CDC officials declared that COVID-19 has played a major role in increasing the reactivation of TB.
Read more: Melbourne Woman Teish Ward’s Brutal Warning After A Horror Diagnosis
“Scientists are examining the root cause of latent TB reactivation, which according to me is unknown at this point,’ said LoBue. He further added that it was too early to draw any conclusions regarding the matter.
In the 1800s, tuberculosis killed 1 in every 7 infected across the US and Europe until the development of antibiotics and public health efforts together succeeded in tracking down those infected to treat them individually to ensure they do not pass it to another person. The move led to ultimate success leading the cases falling for decades.
Currently, vaccines are being developed, and most public health workers have shifted from COVID-19 to TB, and together the team has been constantly approached to prevent TB. Reportedly, the cases were high in New York City last year and hence the officials are hiring managers and community health workers to specifically monito the affected individuals, said the city’s health commissioner, Dr. Ashwin Vasan.