Race Day Live WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT)—Every year, thousands of people in North Carolina catch the flu. But now, another illness is spreading.
In the U.S., more people have been getting tuberculosis in recent years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says cases increased by 15.6% from 2022 to 2023.
In 2024, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) reported 250 tuberculosis cases, the highest since 2010.
Zack Moore, a State Epidemiologist for NCDHHS, says it’s difficult to know exactly why cases are rising. He thinks it might be linked to the COVID-19 pandemic when fewer people were tested or treated for tuberculosis.
“Tuberculosis needs a lot of attention from local health departments. They have to find cases and test people who were exposed,” said Moore.
When someone tests positive for tuberculosis, the health department is notified. Moore says tuberculosis spreads easily through the air, especially from coughs and sneezes.
Once a case is confirmed, officials test people who were in close contact with the infected person.
Moore explains that even if a person has no symptoms, they can still carry the tuberculosis bacteria.
“We have big concerns about drug-resistant tuberculosis. We need to collect samples and ensure people get the right treatment.”
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Doctor visits for flu-like illnesses in the U.S. have hit a 15-year high, according to the CDC. North Carolina is also seeing a rise in flu cases.
The NCDHHS reported that on Jan. 25, 3,960 people tested positive for the flu. By Feb. 1, that number increased to 5,398. Most cases involve Type A influenza.
Moore says over 300 people died from the flu in North Carolina last season, including 16 children. This season, 117 people have died, but no children’s deaths have been reported.
“Many people don’t see the flu as dangerous, but it can be. Those at higher risk include seniors over 65, young children, and people with heart or lung conditions,” Moore said.
“The flu causes tens of thousands of hospitalizations every year and leads to deaths, so it’s important to take steps to stay safe.”
Moore urges people to get the flu vaccine. He says flu, RSV, and COVID-19 are much more common than tuberculosis, but all of them can make people seriously ill.
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