New cases of tuberculosis in the U.S. 2023, by state

During 2023, Alaska reported 10.6 new cases of tuberculosis per 100,000 population, the highest rate of any state. This statistic shows the number of new cases of tuberculosis per 100,000 population in the United States in 2023, by state.

Tuberculosis in the United States

New cases of tuberculosis (TB) in the United States have decreased steadily since the 1960s, mostly due to the discovery and use of antibiotics as an effective treatment for this contagious lung disease caused by bacteria. Other factors contributing to the decline include the ongoing work of local and national programs to detect, treat, and prevent TB disease and transmission, such as reporting and surveillance systems, as well as public health strategies. Unfortunately, TB continues to be one of the deadliest communicable diseases worldwide, as many developing countries still lack the health systems and resources needed to effectively reduce the TB burden.

Risk populations in the U.S.

Tuberculosis often adversely affects groups of people who have experienced health obstacles throughout history, often based on race or ethnicity. In the U.S., cases of TB continue to be disproportionately distributed among various ethnicities: in 2022, over one third of TB cases were among Asians and another third among the Hispanic population. Furthermore, in 2022, higher rates of TB cases were reported among Native Hawaiians or Pacific Islanders and American or Alaskan Natives. Other at-risk populations include non-U.S. born persons of various races or ethnicities, as new TB cases are often found during immigrant medical examinations.