Tuberculosis Cases on the Rise in Maine

Since 2020, Maine has seen three active tuberculosis cases, coinciding with a rise in the disease across the US—particularly among individuals not born in the country, which contrasts sharply with a long-term decline that lasted for about 30 years.

Lindsay Hammes from the Maine Center for Disease Control mentioned that the agency has identified three active TB cases linked to the Portland area and is following its standard procedures for such situations. She emphasized that these cases do not appear to be connected; each has distinct sources. Additionally, officials have dismissed rumors regarding an outbreak at a Portland shelter for asylum seekers.

The data indicates that the majority of TB cases in the US currently involve people born outside the country. In 2024, approximately 10,347 cases were reported, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This equates to three cases per 100,000 individuals, marking a shift following the historic decline that persisted until around 2020, and continuing on into 2024.

While the CDC’s report doesn’t directly associate the uptick in tuberculosis with the significant increase in illegal border crossings during the Biden administration, it does highlight a stark difference in rates among US-born individuals versus non-US-born individuals.

As outlined on the CDC’s TB web page, the findings for 2024 echo earlier trends. Out of the reported TB cases, 2,356 were among US-born individuals, which is about 23%, compared to 7,915 cases, or 76%, among those born elsewhere.

There have been reports of thousands of immigrant children across 44 states testing positive for potential forms of TB as well. In his campaign, Donald Trump referred to illegal immigrants crossing from the southern border as bringing “contagious diseases” into the country, noting that there’s been a resurgence of tuberculosis, which hadn’t been discussed in years.

Globally, tuberculosis affects around 10 million people annually, with 1.5 million deaths each year, making it a leading infectious killer despite being preventable and treatable.

In a recent case, a high school student in Riverside County, California, tested positive for TB and is now undergoing treatment, expected to recover fully. Similarly, a recent report cited another active TB case at a high school in Branch County, Michigan, where health officials recorded 165 cases in total for 2024.

In Maine specifically, the state’s CDC recorded 28 TB cases by the end of July, although officials reiterated that there’s no significant outbreak occurring.

TB transmission occurs through the air, and not everyone exhibits symptoms. Health officials note that those with active TB can show signs like a persistent cough—sometimes coughing up blood, chest pain, fever, and fatigue. Active cases need to be treated with antibiotics, according to medical guidelines.