Every March 24th, NACCHO recognizes World TB Day to commemorate the anniversary of Dr. Robert Koch’s announcement of his discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacillus that causes tuberculosis (TB).
World TB Day is not only an opportunity to educate the public about the impact and burden of TB, but also to recognize the vital role of local health departments across the United States that serve on the front lines of detection, response, and prevention.
Below are the latest resources and data to help local health departments educate their communities about TB and respond to this persistent public health threat.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Resources
CDC’s About World TB Day page provides a helpful overview of the history and significance of the observance of World TB Day.
Data
Yesterday, CDC released its Provisional 2025 Tuberculosis Data in the United States report, offering local health departments an early look at TB case trends before the full annual surveillance report arrives later this fall. The provisional data can help jurisdictions benchmark their local numbers against national trends and prepare for the more comprehensive report.
CDC released their 2024 Tuberculosis Data, United States report on December 19, 2025. Highlights from this report include:
- 115 MDR TB cases reported (1.5% of cases with drug susceptibility testing results for isoniazid and rifampin)
- In 2022 (most recent year with treatment data): 91% of patients received some treatment through directly observed therapy (DOT); 66% received all treatment through DOT — higher than any previously reported year; ~87% of eligible patients completed treatment within one year
- 77% of 2024 TB cases among non-U.S.-born persons; 51% of those had been in the U.S. at least 5 years
- 2023–2024: 12% of U.S. TB cases (1,804 of 14,648 genotyped cases) attributed to recent transmission, ranging 0%–62% across 52 reporting jurisdictions
- 2024: Large outbreaks detected in 6 states (10–64 cases each); nearly 80% of large outbreak cases identified through contact investigations
Resources
CDC’s About World TB Day includes these other insightful resources:
Infographic using 2024 final TB report data. Developed November 2025 (CDC)
World Health Organization (WHO) Resources
WHO’s World TB Day webpage can be used by local health department staff seeking global context on TB trends and elimination efforts. The page features this year’s campaign theme, “Yes! We Can End TB!” along with outreach materials and resources that can supplement local awareness and education activities. The below resources can be found on this webpage: World TB Day 2026 - Yes! We can End TB! Led by countries. Powered by people.
Data
Resources
Graphic shared by WHO for World TB Day 2026.
As we recognize World TB Day, the resources above are intended to equip local health department staff with the latest data and tools to educate their communities and strengthen TB prevention and response efforts. We encourage you to share these materials widely and engage your communities around this year’s theme. NACCHO is grateful for the dedication of local health department staff who work tirelessly on the front lines of TB detection, treatment, and prevention; not just today, but every day.
If you have a story from a local health department that you’d like to share or have a request for health department resources, please email NACCHO’s Infectious Disease team at [email protected].