TB Cases Remain Stubborn in New Mexico

The number of active TB cases seen in New Mexico last year remained unchanged at 49, state data show. But while New Mexico’s rate of active TB was lower than the overall US rate of 3.4 cases per 100,000 people, its TB-related mortality rate continues to be stubbornly high.

New Mexico had a TB mortality rate of 12 percent in 2011, compared to the nationwide death rate of roughly 4 percent, as recently reported by CDC. State figures from 2010 show the 2007-09 TB mortality rate among Hispanics and Native Americans was 16 percent. Foreign-born individuals, particularly those from Mexico, accounted for the majority of deaths among Hispanics, said Diana Fortune, TB program manager for the state Department of Health.

Fortune noted the high prevalence of diabetes in New Mexico, particularly among Hispanics and Native Americans, which may help explain the state’s higher TB mortality rate. Diabetes weakens the body’s immune system, making diagnosing and treating TB more difficult, she said. Active TB is effectively treated with a six-to nine-month, four-drug antibiotic regimen, she added.

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