Tuberculosis, thought to be a disease of the past, is on the rise across the country and in New Jersey. In January, public health officials in the Kansas City metro area raised alarm about an outbreak of tuberculosis leading to 67 active cases of TB disease, two reported deaths, and 79 latent TB cases, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. While New Jersey’s TB cases for 2024 are not yet available, the outbreak has people concerned this 20th century disease is making a comeback.
“It’s always important to say it’s still around, we can’t turn our backs because it behaves in such a way that it sneaks up on you,” said Dr. Alfred Lardizabal, executive director of the Global Tuberculosis Institute at Rutgers University and an associate professor of medicine. Since 2020, the United States has seen an increase in reported TB cases, surpassing pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
New Jersey is experiencing a similar increase in cases and has a TB incidence rate above the national average. While TB isn’t a widespread threat in the U.S., public health experts are warning it remains one of the top causes of death worldwide and public awareness is key to prevent illness. To read the full story.