CDC: Tuberculosis rate drops more than 11%

ATLANTA The rate of reported tuberculosis cases in the United States has decreased more than 11% since 2008, making it the greatest single-year decrease since the disease surveillance commenced in 1953, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Tuberculosis is a disease caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis that typically attacks the lungs, but can attack any part of the body including the kidneys, spine and brain. If not treated properly, TB can be fatal. The 11.4% drop may be attributed to changes in population demographics or improved TB control, CDC said in its report -- Morbidity and Mortality Weekly -- released two weeks ago. The disease was once the leading cause of death in the United States, CDC said.

The findings in the report are based, in part, on data contributed by state and local TB control officials.