2010 TB Goal for
US Not Likely Attainable
[Posted 02/22/2008]
CDC
researchers announced in the February issue of the
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care
that the US is unlikely to meet its goal of reducing
the incidence of tuberculosis in this country to
less than one case per 1,000,000 of population by
2010. Analyzing data collected in the National
Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES),
1999–2000, scientists concluded that while the
national prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection
(LTBI) in the US was declining, it was still far
greater than what would be required to meet the goal
established in 1989.
The
prevalence of both active and latent tuberculosis
dropped significantly from the early 1970s to the
1999/2000 survey timeframe, with the estimated rate
of active TB disease falling to 56 per 1,000,000 of
US population. The 4.2% (or 42,000 per 1,000,000)
national prevalence of LTBI, however, remained
significantly higher than the “1% and falling” that
researchers estimated was needed to reach the goal.
LTBI rates among non-Hispanic whites was estimated
to be 1.9%, but the rates among certain population
subgroups, notably foreign-born residents (18.7%),
Mexican Americans (9.4%), non-Hispanic
blacks/African Americans (7.0%), and individuals
living in poverty (6.1%), were much higher.
The
study’s authors concluded that TB elimination
strategies should include targeted evaluation and
treatment of individuals in the high-prevalence
groups. “The higher LTBI rates among some subgroups
suggest that specific public health actions should
be taken for and with immigrant communities, racial
minorities, and individuals living in poverty,”
said study author Dr. Diane Bennett of the US
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “While
LTBI is not infectious and latently affected
individuals are not a threat to others, increased
outreach for education, diagnosis, and provision of
appropriate preventative treatment could prevent
many future cases of active TB.”
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