Tuberculosis Cases and Care with County Public Health

MINNESOTA — Active cases of Tuberculosis (TB) have been on the rise across Minnesota and nationally since 2022.

TB is a dangerous bacterial infection that attacks the lungs.

There are two different kinds of TB. Active TB is when someone is infected with TB who has symptoms and can transmit it to others. The other kind is Latent TB which is when the infected individual doesn’t show symptoms and isn’t contagious.

While cases have risen nationally, Northeastern Minnesota hasn’t seen the same increase.

“Northeastern Minnesota hasn’t seen an increase in active TB. In fact, we’ve only had two cases of active TB between 2020 and 2024 and for most of the active TB cases in Minnesota and the US are a reactivation of an old TB infection, or latent TB rather than A recent transmission,” said Rillis Eklund, a public health nurse from St. Louis County. “The CDC estimates that 90% of the TB cases in Minnesota are attributed to reactivation of the old infection, but progression from latent tuberculosis infection to active TB disease can be prevented by the use of antibiotics”

Those at the most risk are those who’ve had prolonged exposure to someone who has latent or has active TB, people who live or work in large group settings, or people who have traveled to communities with higher rates of TB.

St. Louis County Public Health works with individuals who’ve been exposed or infected to ensure they receive testing, treatment, and care.