TB in Texas: An Overview
In 2020, 882 cases of tuberculosis (TB) were reported in Texas. This represents a decrease of 23.6% from 2019 when 1,154 cases were reported. The Texas TB rate in 2020 was 3.0 per 100,000 persons. TB can affect anyone but is more likely to be diagnosed in persons born in a foreign country where TB is prevalent, persons living with diabetes or HIV/AIDS, persons who abuse alcohol and other drugs, persons who live in congregate settings (including prisons and other detention centers), people who experience homelessness, and health care workers.
Tuberculosis is curable with proper treatment; however, some strains of TB are resistant to drugs used to treat TB. In 2020, six people in Texas were diagnosed with multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB). There were no cases of extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) reported in Texas in 2020. XDR-TB is the most difficult form of TB to treat.
In Texas, 50% of reported TB cases in 2020 were among Hispanics of any race, 19% were among African Americans, 9% were among Whites, and 22% were among Asians. TB rates are higher along the Texas-Mexico border. Co-infection with TB and diabetes is also more common along the border than in the rest of the state. Homelessness and TB/HIV co-infection are more commonly found in larger urban areas of Texas.
Texas Counties with the Most TB Cases - 2020
|
 |
| County |
Cases |
|
Harris |
243 |
|
Dallas |
110 |
|
Tarrant |
63 |
|
Bexar |
53 |
|
Hidalgo |
36 |
|
Travis |
32 |
|
Walker* |
29 |
|
Fort Bend |
27 |
|
El Paso |
25 |
|
Collin |
24 |
| * TB cases diagnosed among TDCJ inmates are attributed to Walker County for surveillance purposes | |