Tuberculosis Cases Skyrocket in the U.S. Amid Border Crisis

Between 2020 and 2023, reported cases of tuberculosis (TB) in the United States surged by 34%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The rise is attributed mainly to the influx of foreign-born individuals who contract the disease in their countries of origin or during travel through areas with high TB prevalence. As a result, more than 75% of TB cases in the U.S. involve foreign-born populations, with countries like Haiti showing much higher incidence rates. This resurgence of TB coincides with increased migration to the U.S., particularly in urban centers such as New York City. Local neighborhoods, including Flushing and Sunset Park, are significantly impacted. The ongoing immigration debate has sparked discussions among public health officials in Western Europe and North America regarding adequate screening and control measures to prevent TB from spreading among local populations. Despite these rising concerns, current immigration policies allow many arrivals, particularly those entering illegally or through recent parole systems, to bypass necessary TB screenings. There is a growing worry that this lack of screening could lead to further outbreaks, especially among unaccompanied minors who may carry latent TB and are often released into local communities. Public health authorities are urged to prioritize the screening and treatment of migrants to ensure that the recent strides made in reducing TB's threat to public health are not reversed. The focus on equity and resource distribution has led to concerns that the approach may overshadow the urgency of preventing infectious disease transmission.