Three Active Tuberculosis Cases Confirmed in Greater Portland, Maine; Officials Say Public Risk Low
State health authorities are conducting contact tracing after three unconnected active tuberculosis diagnoses amid a national rise in cases
Three people in the Greater Portland area of Maine have been diagnosed with active tuberculosis, public health officials said, prompting contact tracing and efforts to identify and isolate close contacts while warning that the immediate risk to the public is low.
State officials reported that the three cases appear to be unconnected, suggesting separate sources of infection, and said investigations are under way to determine any potential links and to locate people who may have been exposed. Health authorities emphasized that routine public health measures, including testing, treatment and isolation of contagious individuals, are being deployed.
The announcement comes amid a broader increase in tuberculosis cases in the United States. According to federal data cited by state officials, the U.S. recorded 10,347 tuberculosis infections in 2024, an eight percent rise from the previous year and the highest national tally since 2011, when 10,471 cases were recorded. Public health authorities in Maine say they are coordinating with local and federal partners to monitor the situation and to ensure appropriate follow-up testing and treatment.
The World Health Organization classifies tuberculosis as the disease that kills the most people worldwide, with roughly 1.25 million deaths annually, primarily in developing countries. Left untreated or in unvaccinated populations, tuberculosis can have a high fatality rate; published estimates note it can kill up to half of patients if not properly managed. Officials contrasted that outcome with lower fatality rates for diseases such as COVID-19, which have been reported below 1 percent in many settings, and cited higher case fatality figures for untreated measles and Legionnaires’ disease, which can reach around 10 percent in some circumstances.
Public health experts stressed that tuberculosis is generally less transmissible than some respiratory viruses but can spread through prolonged close contact with someone who has active pulmonary disease. The state’s response includes identifying those who had significant exposure to the diagnosed individuals, offering testing and prophylactic or curative treatment as appropriate, and advising clinicians to be alert for respiratory symptoms consistent with tuberculosis.
Maine officials said the three patients are receiving medical care and that no broader community transmission has been identified at this time. They urged residents with prolonged exposure to any of the cases or with symptoms such as a persistent cough, night sweats, weight loss or fever to contact health services for evaluation.
The state’s announcement follows a period of renewed attention to tuberculosis control in the United States, where public health authorities have cited rising case counts and emphasized the importance of surveillance, timely diagnosis and completion of treatment regimens to prevent spread and drug resistance. Health departments continue to monitor trends and to support clinicians and laboratories in reporting suspected cases so that public health responses can be initiated quickly.
Officials reiterated that, while tuberculosis remains a major global killer, the risk to the general public in Maine from these three cases is low, and that established public health protocols are intended to limit further transmission and protect vulnerable populations.