TB Case Confirmed in Jackson County Amidst Rising Statewide Numbers

Jackson County -- August 5, 2025: The Jackson County Department of Public Health has announced a confirmed case of tuberculosis (TB), prompting a contact investigation in coordination with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

The individual, who was in Jackson County while infectious, is currently isolated and receiving treatment. Health officials are working to identify and notify anyone who may have had close contact with the individual.

The announcement has raised concerns among Jackson County residents, who are seeking more details about the individual's locations and dates of potential exposure. In a public statement, Jackson County Public Health Director Anna Lippard emphasized that the department is working to identify and support those who may have been exposed and that they are committed to keeping the community informed every step of the way. However, health officials have stated that if you have not been contacted directly by the health department, the risk to the general public is low and there is no need to seek testing at this time.

The announcement comes as North Carolina, like the rest of the country, is seeing a concerning increase in TB cases. After a long period of decline, the state's case numbers are now on an upward trend. According to provisional data from the CDC, North Carolina reported 250 TB cases in 2024, a notable increase from the 215 cases in 2023.

This recent rise in cases reverses a long-standing pattern. Data from the five years leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic (2015-2019) showed that North Carolina had a relatively stable number of TB cases, with a slight downward trend. The significant drop in cases occurred in 2020, during the first year of the pandemic, followed by a sharp increase in subsequent years. This pattern is not believed to be a result of increased transmission but rather a consequence of the pandemic's impact on public health systems. The diversion of resources, delayed diagnoses, and interrupted treatment programs during that time created a backlog of undiagnosed cases that are now being identified.

Health officials in Western North Carolina and beyond continue to remind the public that TB is a serious but treatable illness. Symptoms of active TB include a cough lasting more than three weeks, chest pain, fever, weight loss, and night sweats.

This local case serves as a reminder of the need for ongoing vigilance and public health measures to control the spread of infectious diseases. 

WNCTimes

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