World TB Day raises awareness of global tuberculosis threat
Health District emphasizes TB Treatment and Control Clinic
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 24, 2025
LAS VEGAS — The Southern Nevada Health District is calling attention to the global impact of tuberculosis as it commemorates World TB Day on Monday, March 24. Across the globe, 1.25 million people died of TB and another 10.8 million became ill with the disease in 2023. While global efforts to combat TB have saved 79 million lives since 2000, the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors have reversed years of progress.
The United States has one of the lowest TB disease case rates in the world, but data indicate the number of TB disease cases nationwide grew from 8,300 cases in 2022 to 9,615 in 2023, a significant 15.8% increase. Nevada had 86 active cases of TB in 2023, up from 62 in 2022. In Clark County, there were 76 active TB cases in 2023 and 67 in 2024. Alarmingly, TB-associated deaths in Clark County nearly doubled, increasing from 6 in 2023 to 11 in 2024.
With the theme, “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver,” World TB Day is a global call for hope, urgency and accountability in the fight against the planet’s deadliest infectious disease. District Health Officer Dr. Cassius Lockett said, “World TB Day brings crucial attention to the ongoing TB epidemic and serves as an important reminder that too many people continue to suffer from the disease unnecessarily.” He continued, “It’s vital to support robust state and local public health programs and keep engaging communities with higher TB rates in our efforts to eliminate the disease.”
TB is caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium, which can be spread through the air when infected individuals cough or speak. The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but TB bacteria can attack any part of the body such as the brain, spine or kidney.
Not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick. In fact, most people will develop latent TB infection (LTBI), a condition in which the bacteria lives in the body without making a person sick. However, in other people, especially those with weak immune systems and conditions like diabetes, the bacteria can cause active TB disease, which can be deadly if not identified and treated appropriately.
As the leading provider of TB services in Southern Nevada, the Health District’s Tuberculosis Treatment and Control Clinic offers comprehensive care to ensure that people with active TB disease or LTBI are treated and that those exposed to someone with active TB disease are properly evaluated.
For more information about World TB Day, visit About World TB Day | World TB Day | CDC or www.who.int/campaigns/world-tb-day/2025.
The Southern Nevada Health District serves as the local public health authority for Clark County, Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas, Mesquite and North Las Vegas. The agency safeguards the public health of the community’s residents and visitors through innovative programs, regulations, and initiatives focused on protecting and promoting their health and well-being. More information about the Health District, its programs, services, and the regulatory oversight it provides is available at www.SNHD.info. Follow the Health District on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.