US Pharm. 2014;39(4):7.
Atlanta, GA—According to the CDC, the number of
tuberculosis (TB) cases in the United States has hit a record low, with
fewer than 10,000 cases reported last year. In 2013, a total of 9,588
new TB cases were reported, with an incidence rate of 3.0 cases per
100,000 population, a decrease of 4.2% from 2012. Despite strict
screening policies, immigrants are still 13 times more likely to be
diagnosed with TB than native-born Americans. Four states (California,
Texas, New York, Florida) accounted for approximately half of the
reported cases. Multidrug-resistant TB remains unusual in the U.S., with
only 86 cases in 2012, but is still a concern because it is difficult
and expensive to treat and more often fatal.
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