2014 TUBERCULOSIS FACT SHEET
A Profile of Mecklenburg County Reported Cases
OVERVIEW
T
uberculosis (TB) is a disease caused
by bacteria called Mycobacterium
tuberculosis. TB usually affects the
lungs, but it can also affect other parts of
the body. TB is spread through the air from
one person to another. The bacteria are put
into the air when a person with active TB
disease of the lungs or throat coughs or
sneezes. People nearby may breathe in
these bacteria and become infected.
If not treated properly, TB disease can be
fatal. Worldwide, TB affects about 9 million
people each year, killing about 2 million. In
the United States 9,412 TB cases were
reported in 2014 with 536 deaths related to
TB disease occurring in 2011, the latest
year for which complete data is available
(Centers for Disease Control, 2014 TB
Surveillance Report).
TB Case Reports Decline, However
Challenges Persist
TB case rates for the nation have declined,
following a resurgence of the disease
between 1985 and 1992. In 2014, the
number of TB cases reported in the nation
and case rate (3.0 cases per 100,000)
declined; a decrease of 2.2% from 2013.
In Mecklenburg County TB case rates
declined from 14.5 cases per 100,000
persons in 1995 to 2.2 cases per 100,000
persons in 2014. Despite this overall
improvement, the percentage decrease in
rates has slowed in recent years. In
addition, the emergence of drug resistant
TB strains and increased reports among
foreign-born populations create continued
challenges in TB eradication.
Prepared by: Mecklenburg County Health Department, Epidemiology Program
04/2012
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2014 TUBERCULOSIS FACT SHEET
A Profile of Mecklenburg County Reported Cases
Data Source: North Carolina Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NC EDSS)
Prepared by: Mecklenburg County Health Department, Epidemiology Program
04/2012
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2014 TUBERCULOSIS FACT SHEET
A Profile of Mecklenburg County Reported Cases
MECKLENBURG TB CASE REPORTS:
2014 DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE

In 2014, 22 TB cases (a rate of 2.2
cases per 100,000 persons) were
reported in Mecklenburg County. The
2014 case rate for Mecklenburg was
similar to the State (2.0) and lower than
the Nation (3.0).

In comparison to peak reports in 2006
(55 reported cases), Mecklenburg TB
reports during 2014 declined by 60%.
Age, Gender and Racial/Ethnic
Differences

The majority of the 2014 TB cases were
reported among persons 50 years and
over (27%).

Females (12 cases or 55%) were more
likely than males (10 cases or 45%) to
be reported with TB.

While overall reports and case rates of
TB have declined for the county, racial
and ethnic minorities remain
disproportionately impacted by
tuberculosis.

Non-Hispanic Whites accounted for 9%
of new TB cases in 2014. In
comparison, non Hispanic African
Americans represented 36% of reports
while Hispanic/Latinos were 23% and
non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islanders
were approximately 27% of new TB
case reports for the county.

*Due to rounding, percentages may total more than 100%
Several factors contribute to these
differences in reports, including
increased reports among Foreign born
persons, many of whom are racial/ethnic
minorities.
Prepared by: Mecklenburg County Health Department, Epidemiology Program
04/2012
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2014 TUBERCULOSIS FACT SHEET
A Profile of Mecklenburg County Reported Cases
RISK FACTORS FOR TUBERCULOSIS
Increased TB case reports are associated
with several risk factors, including:
 being foreign-born
 having a history of substance abuse
 being homeless
 being a resident of a long-term care
facility or a correctional facility
 co-infection with HIV, and
 being a health-care worker
Based upon the past five years of countylevel data, there have been limited to no
reports of TB disease in long-term care
facilities, correctional facilities or among
health-care workers.
 TB cases co-infected with HIV have declined
over time, from 16% of TB reports in 2011 to
5% of TB reports during 2014.
 Reports of being homeless within the past
year among TB cases have ranged from 3 7%. In 2014, there were no reports of
homelessness among TB cases.
Prepared by: Mecklenburg County Health Department, Epidemiology Program
04/2012
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2014 TUBERCULOSIS FACT SHEET
A Profile of Mecklenburg County Reported Cases
Country of Origin: U.S. and Foreign born
Case Reports

In general TB case reports among US
born persons has declined over time,
while the proportion of TB cases among
foreign-born individuals has increased.

Foreign-born TB cases increased from
34% of total case reports in 2008 to
68% of total case reports in 2014.

During 2014, non-Hispanic Asians
accounted for the majority of foreign
born TB reports (40%), while nonHispanic African Americans (72%)
represented the majority of US Born TB
cases.
2014 Mecklenburg TB Reported Cases: US Born and Foreign Born Cases
(% Distribution of Race/Ethnicity)
US BORN Reported TB Cases by Race
Total US Born Cases: 7
FOREIGN BORN Reported TB Cases by Race
Total Foreign Born Cases: 15
22 TB cases were reported in 2014.
Prepared by: Mecklenburg County Health Department, Epidemiology Program
04/2012
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