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Dear Colleague Letters										Related Pages
										**World TB Day**
March 24, 2020PDF Versionpdf icon
Dear Colleagues:
World TB Day is observed annually on March 24th to commemorate Dr. Robert Koch’s announcement of his discovery of *Mycobacterium tuberculosis*, the bacillus that causes tuberculosis (TB). On this World TB Day let us celebrate our progress while re-committing to ending TB in the United States and globally. I recognize that many of our colleagues are also engaged in the response to COVID-19, and want to express an extra special thank you for your continued hard work and dedication during these difficult times.
The Center for Disease Control  (CDC) leads a state-of-the-art national TB program for the United States, which has achieved one of the lowest TB rates in the world. CDC’s domestic TB program also conducts clinical trials and epidemiologic research that contributes to guidelines and strategies for eliminating TB globally. In 2019, CDC reported a total of 8,920 new TB disease cases in the United States, a rate of 2.7 per 100,000 – the lowest number of U.S. cases since reporting began in 1953 through the National TB Surveillance System. This success is a result of ongoing, national investment in our nation’s public health system and TB research, prevention, and control programs.
CDC’s domestic work in the United States supports a dual approach to end TB by diagnosing and treating every case of infectious TB disease and preventing future cases through expanded testing and treatment for people with latent TB infection. As you know, people with latent TB infection do not feel sick, do not show symptoms of TB disease, and cannot spread the bacteria to others. However, without treatment, the bacteria can become active, and they can develop TB disease. Up to 13 million people in the United States have latent TB infection — and most do not know it. Today, more than 80 percent of the nation’s TB disease cases result from untreated latent TB infection. CDC is working to make testing for latent TB infection a routine part of primary care for patients at risk.
The agency and the National Tuberculosis Controllers Association recently published new treatment guidelines for persons diagnosed with latent TB infection. These combined efforts help protect people and slows the development of multi-drug or extensively drug-resistant TB. CDC continues researching new TB diagnostics, treatments, and approaches through the TB Trials Consortium and TB Epidemiologic Studies Consortium.
Worldwide, TB remains the world’s deadliest infectious disease killer with an estimated 10 million people developing TB disease each year, and approximately 4,100 persons losing their lives every day. Globally, CDC is on the frontlines in the world’s highest burden countries to find, cure, and prevent all forms of TB. Our work helps to expand access to improved diagnostic methods; strengthen and expand laboratory capacity, surveillance systems, and prevention and treatment programs; and build workforce and research capacity.
As part of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, in 2019, CDC was instrumental in starting more than 1.1 million people on TB preventive treatment (TPT). Partnering with the International Union Against TB and Lung Disease, CDC recently launched the Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Child and Adolescent TB Centre of Excellence, a virtual network of TB professionals and organizations that will come together  to integrate TB screening into routine pediatric health care, identify the best diagnostic methods for TB in children, scale-up TPT for children, and use quality pediatric data to inform policies and practices in African countries.
CDC is committed on World TB Day and every day because it is time to:
Test and treat latent TB infection
Strengthen TB education and awareness among health care providers
Find, cure, and prevent all forms of TB in the United States and around the world
Speak up, end stigma, and end TBThank you for your commitment to eliminate TB in the United States and around the world. The work you do is vital, and we will continue to make progress globally because of your heroic efforts.

Sincerely,
**Robert R. Redfield, MD**
Director, CDC
							
					
						Page last reviewed:  March 24, 2020					Content source: 	Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention homeTuberculosisBasic TB Factsplus iconHow TB SpreadsLatent TB Infection and TB DiseaseSigns & SymptomsTB Risk FactorsExposure to TBTB PreventionVaccinesTB & HIV CoinfectionTB and DiabetesTB TermsPersonal StoriesTesting & Diagnosisplus iconWho Should be TestedTesting for TB InfectionTesting in BCG-Vaccinated PersonsTB Screening and Testing of Health Care PersonnelTesting During PregnancyDiagnosing latent TB infection and TB diseaseTreatmentplus iconDeciding When to Treat Latent TB InfectionTreatment Regimens for Latent TB Infection (LTBI)Treatment for TB DiseaseAdverse EventsTB Treatment of Persons Living with HIVTB Treatment and PregnancyTB Treatment for ChildrenFrequently Asked QuestionsDrug-Resistant TBResearchplus iconTB Epidemiologic Studies Consortiumplus iconResearch ProjectsPublicationsTB Trials Consortiumplus iconStudy DescriptionsBackgroundBehavioral & Social Science ResearchHealth Care Settingsplus iconTB Infection Control in Health Care SettingsResources for TB Screening and Testing of Health Care Personnelplus iconFrequently Asked QuestionsTB in Specific Populationsplus iconHealth DisparitiesAsian PersonsBlack or African American PersonsHispanic or Latino PersonsChildrenPregnancyCorrectional FacilitiesPeople Experiencing HomelessnessInternational TravelersLaboratory Informationplus iconDrug Susceptibility TestingFalse-Positive Investigation ToolkitInterim Laboratory Biosafety Guidance for XDR  tuberculosis strainsModel Performance Evaluation Program (MPEP)Rapid Molecular Testing to Detect Drug-Resistant TB in the USplus iconExecutive SummaryIntroductionBackground on Tests for Molecular Detection of DRGeneral Considerations and Principles for a Molecular DR Testing ServicePossible Scenarios and Scope of Testing for a Molecular DR Testing ServiceResearch NeedsGeneral Recommendations of the Expert PanelCommunication Plan for the ReportRecommendationsReferencesPanel Members and CDC ParticipantsAppendix 1Appendix 2Appendix 3The Uses of Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests for the Diagnosis of TBplus iconGeneral ConsiderationsGeneral Recommendations of the Expert PanelRecommendations to ACET, CDC, DTBEData & Statisticsplus iconTB Incidence in the United StatesReported TB in the US, 2022 Surveillance Reportplus iconNational DataReporting Area DataRisk FactorsDemographicsTB Treatment and Case OutcomesDrug-Resistant TBMolecular SurveillanceTuberculosis in the United States, 2022 (Slide Set)Archived Surveillance Reports and Slide Sets2021 State and City ReportArchived State and City ReportsProfessional Resources & Toolsplus iconTools for Healthcare ProvidersResources for TB Programsplus iconStrengthening Civil Surgeons’ Capacity to Improve LTBI Surveillance and Outcomes Among Status AdjustersNotice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)Program EvaluationTB Centers of ExcellenceTB Elimination AllianceTB Genotypingplus iconConventional TB GenotypingWhole Genome SequencingTB GIMSAnalytic ToolsLatent Tuberculosis Infection ResourcesPublications & Productsplus iconPatient and Public MaterialsFact SheetsGuidelinesplus iconControl & EliminationDrug-Resistant TBInfection Control & PreventionLaboratory & GenotypingTB & HIVTB in Specific PopulationsTesting & DiagnosisTreatmentVaccines & ImmunizationsArchived TB GuidelinesGuides & Toolkitsplus iconAggregate ReportsCDC TB Surveillance TrainingCore CurriculumEffective TB Interviewing for Contact InvestigationEthnographic GuidesFalse-Positive Investigation ToolkitForging Partnerships to Eliminate TuberculosisGuide to Application of GenotypingLTBI: A Guide for Primary Health Care ProvidersMantoux Tuberculin Skin Testing ProductsReport of Verified Case of Tuberculosis (RVCT)Self-Study ModulesTB Contact Investigation Interviewing Skills CourseTB eDOT ToolkitUnderstanding the TB Cohort Review ProcessNewslettersplus iconTB Notes, No. 4, 2023TB Notes, No. 3, 2023TB Notes. No. 2, 2023TB Notes. No. 1, 2023TB Notes, No. 4, 2022TB Notes, No. 3, 2022TB Notes, No. 2, 2022TB Notes, No. 1, 2022TB Notes, No. 4, 2021TB Notes, No. 3, 2021TB Notes, No. 2, 2021TB Notes, No. 1, 2021Pamphlets, Brochures, Bookletsplus iconQuestions and AnswersPatient Education SeriesTuberculosis - Get the FactsTuberculosis - The Connection between TB and HIV12-Dose Regimen for Latent TB Infection-Patient Education BrochurePostersplus iconMantoux Tuberculin Skin Test Wall ChartWorld TB DayThink TBStop TBTake on TBReports & Articlesplus iconDTBE Authored Journal ArticlesTuberculosis Laboratory Aggregate ReportsSlide Setsplus iconIntroduction to TuberculosisEpidemiology of Tuberculosis Among Non-U.S.​–Born Persons in the United States, 1993–2016Self-Study Modules on Tuberculosis, 1-5 Slide SetsThe Tuberculosis (TB) in Correctional Settingsplus iconFacilitator GuideIntroduction to TB GenotypingEpidemiology of Tuberculosis in Correctional Facilities, United States, 1993-2017Prevention and Control of Tuberculosis in Correctional and Detention FacilitiesGuidelines for Preventing the Transmission of M. TB in Health care SettingsInvestigation of Contacts of Persons with Infectious TBEpidemiology of Pediatric Tuberculosis in the United StatesTargeted Tuberculosis Testing and Treatment of Latent Tuberculosis InfectionElectronic Tools & ResourcesWeb-Based Courses & Webinarsplus iconTB 101 for Health Care WorkersContent SyndicationInfographicsplus iconSocial Media GraphicsCustomizable Take on TB Infographic with InstructionsEventsWorld TB Dayplus iconU.S. TB ChampionsHistoryFeaturesplus iconTB Risk FactorsTreating Latent TB Infection with Short-Course RegimensWorld Tuberculosis (TB) Day 2021World Tuberculosis (TB) Day 2020Linksplus iconState TB Control OfficesAbout Usplus iconMission Statement and Activitiesplus iconDTBE Strategic PlanNational TB Program ObjectivesOrganization ChartAdvisory Groupsplus iconFederal TB Task Force To receive email updates about this page, enter your email address: Email Address			What's this?				Submit


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