North Carolina sees an increase in flu and tuberculosis cases

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT)—Every year, thousands of people in North Carolina get sick with the flu. However, a new illness is on the rise.

In the United States, the number of people getting sick with tuberculosis has been on the rise in recent years. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the number of people with tuberculosis increased by 15.6% from 2022 to 2023.

In 2024, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reported 250 cases of tuberculosis- the highest number reported since 2010.

Zack Moore, a State Epidemiologist for NCDHHS, says it’s hard to pinpoint an exact reason for the increase. However, he suggests it could possibly be traced back to the COVID-19 pandemic when people had fewer options for getting tested or treated for tuberculosis.

“Tuberculosis is something that requires a lot of effort and attention from our local health departments. Both in terms of finding people with tuberculosis and, if they find someone with tuberculosis testing everyone who might have been exposed,” said Moore.

When someone tests positive for tuberculosis, it is reported to the health department. Moore says tuberculosis spreads easily through the air, coughs and sneezes. When a positive test is reported the health department will test everyone who was near the person with the positive test.

Moore says once a person is exposed they could have the bacteria that causes tuberculosis even if no current symptoms are present.

“We do have big issues with drug-resistant tuberculosis so we need to get specimens and make sure people are on the right treatments.”

According to the CDC, doctor visits for flu-like illnesses have reached a 15-year high. Similarly, North Carolina is experiencing an increase in flu cases. The NCDHHS reported that on Jan. 25, 3,960 individuals tested positive for the flu, and by Feb. 1, this number climbed to 5,398. Most of these positive tests are associated with Type A influenza.

Moore says more than 300 people died of the flu in North Carolina last flu season. 16 of those deaths were children. This flu season, 117 people have passed away, and no reported deaths have been children.

“People don’t often think about it as a potentially deadly infection and for most people, it’s not. But particularly for people who have certain risk factors, they are 65 or older, young children are at a higher for severe illness or even death from flu, and people with certain medical conditions like heart conditions or lung conditions are at a higher risk,” Moore said. “Flu can be very serious and it can cause tens of thousands of hospitalizations every year, and it causes deaths every year which is why we recommend that everyone take action to protect themselves.”

Moore says it’s not too late for people to get the flu vaccine. A person is more likely to get sick with the flu, RSV, or COVID-19 when compared to tuberculosis.

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