Trending Now - Surge in 'white Plague' Cases Prompts Doctor Alerts in US

WHO:

Yahoo - Renuga Vivekanandan, M.D., professor at Creighton University School of Medicine and VP and CMO of CHI Health Physician Enterprise Midwest, expressed concern over rising tuberculosis cases.

Fox News - Masae Kawamura, M.D., a former TB control director in San Francisco and a tuberculosis clinician, provided insights on TB symptoms and transmission.

WHAT:

Yahoo - Cases of tuberculosis, referred to as "the white plague," have been rising in the U.S. since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yahoo - More than 10,600 cases of tuberculosis were confirmed in 2024, equating to approximately three cases per 100,000 people.

Yahoo - The 2024 case count is the highest annual number since 2013 and marks the third consecutive annual increase in tuberculosis cases.

Yahoo - Approximately 25% of people have likely been infected with the tuberculosis bacteria, with about 5% to 10% developing active disease.

WHERE:

Yahoo - The rise in tuberculosis cases is occurring in the United States.

WHEN:

Yahoo - The increase in tuberculosis cases has been noted since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Yahoo - The confirmed cases of tuberculosis in 2024 were reported based on the latest available data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

WHY:

Yahoo - The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted tuberculosis surveillance and treatment programs, leading to a rebound effect of latent TB infections becoming active.

Yahoo - Increased international travel and migration from countries with higher tuberculosis prevalence are contributing factors to the rise in cases.

HOW:

Yahoo - Tuberculosis is spread through airborne particles released when an infected person coughs, speaks, or sneezes.

Yahoo - Doctors typically use a skin or blood test to detect tuberculosis infection, followed by imaging or sputum testing to confirm active disease.

Yahoo - Tuberculosis is treated with antibiotics taken daily for four to six months, including isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol.

(UPDATED March 30, 2026 03:59 UTC)

Rising tuberculosis cases in the U.S. have become a significant concern, with over 10,600 confirmed cases in 2024, marking the highest annual number since 2013 and the third consecutive increase since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Experts like Dr. Renuga Vivekanandan from Creighton University and Dr. Masae Kawamura, a former TB control director in San Francisco, highlight that disruptions in surveillance and treatment during the pandemic, along with increased international travel, have contributed to this alarming trend. Tuberculosis, which spreads through airborne particles, can be detected through skin or blood tests and is treated with a regimen of antibiotics taken daily for four to six months.