TB in Texas: An Overview
In 2019, 1,159 cases of tuberculosis (TB) were reported in Texas. This represents an increase of 2.7% from 2018 when 1,129 cases were reported. The Texas TB rate in 2019 was 4.0 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 2019, eleven 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 2019. XDR-TB is the most difficult form of TB to treat.
In Texas, 53% of reported TB cases in 2019 were among Hispanics, 16% were among African Americans, 10% were among Whites, and 20% 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.
2020 TB case rates are not yet available due to delays in reporting 2020 population estimates by the U.S. Census.
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 | |