The Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention contributed to this article.  

Each year, World TB Day is recognized on March 24th to commemorate the date in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced his discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacillus that causes tuberculosis (TB).  Worldwide, TB continues to be one of the world's deadliest diseases, with an estimated 2 billion persons infected with M. tuberculosis (one third of the world's population).  In 2010, almost 9 million people around the world became sick with TB disease, and 1.5 million died from it.  World TB Day provides an opportunity to raise awareness about TB-related problems and solutions, and to support worldwide TB-control efforts. 

This year, CDC joins the global Stop TB Partnership in adopting the slogan "Stop TB in my lifetime" that goes with the theme of calling for a world free of TB.  The slogan and theme encourage people all over the world, from the youngest to the oldest, to make an individual call for the elimination of TB, and say what changes they expect to take place in their lifetimes.

Disparities continue to exist between TB rates in U.S.-born whites compared with racial and ethnic minorities and foreign-born persons in the United States. In 2010, the TB rate among foreign-born persons was 11 times greater than that of U.S.-born persons. Additionally, the prevalence of drug-resistant TB and extrapulmonary disease is higher among foreign-born persons, making the diagnosis and management of these cases essential to TB control and prevention.     

In the Literature

Estimating the impact of newly arrived foreign-born persons on tuberculosis in the United States. Liu, Y., Painter, J.A., Posey, D.L., Cain, K.P., Weinberg, M.S., Maloney, S.A., et al. 2012. PLoS One, 7(2), e32158.

Overseas screening for tuberculosis in U.S.-bound immigrants and refugees. Liu, Y., Weinberg, M. S., Ortega, L. S., Painter, J. A., & Maloney, S. A. 2009. N Engl J Med, 360(23), 2406-2415. 

Reduced importation of tuberculosis after the implementation of an enhanced pre-immigration screening protocol. Lowenthal, P., Westenhouse, J., Moore, M., Posey, D. L., Watt, J. P., & Flood, J. (2011). Int J Tuberc Lung Dis, 15(6), 761-766.

Trends in tuberculosis -- United States, 2010. MMWR. 60(11), 333-337.

Perceptions of tuberculosis among immigrants and refugees at an adult education center: a community-based participatory research approach. Wieland, M. L., Weis, J. A., Yawn, B. P., Sullivan, S. M., Millington, K. L., Smith, C. M., et al. (2012). J Immigr Minor Health, 14(1), 14-22. 

African Refugee and Immigrant Lives: Conflict, Consequences, and Contributions 

May 2-4, 2012, Arlington, VA 

Presented by: The Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC) Center for African Refugees and Immigrants (CARI). 

Assets for Independence Demonstration Program

Spring Cycle due March 26, 2012. Support for community-based organizations to offer Individual Development Accounts (matched savings accounts), financial education, and related services to low-income individuals and families, in order for them to accumulate savings and invest in appreciating assets such as a first home, small business, or higher education or training.

Services to Victims of Human Trafficking Grant

Due April 17, 2012. $200,000 to $400,000 for victim service organizations to provide services to human trafficking victims and to enhance interagency collaboration and coordination in the provision of services. Funding will support either a comprehensive array of services for trafficking victims or specialized mental health or legal services; as well as efforts to increase the capacity of communities to respond to victims through partnerships, outreach, and awareness campaigns.