With a surge of TB cases in Washington state, the health department has announced a high alert in the surrounding regions. Both locally and globally, the outbreak has led to an increased burden on the healthcare sector along with the ongoing Covid 19 pandemic. According to 2021 WHO reports, the TB mortality rate has increased to 1.5 million globally. Meanwhile, in the US, 70 cases have been reported, with 17 cases having connections with each other and several state prisons. During 2019-2020, a decline in the cases was visualized, probably due to misdiagnosis, however, in 2021, a sudden spike of 22%  (199 new cases) was reported.

Tao Sheng Kwan-Gett, MD, the state′s chief science officer called it the worst outbreak in the last two decades with a cluster of TB cases being presented. He added that increased access to treatment and testing facilities will be the key to controlling the outbreak. MaryAnn Curl, MD, the chief medical officer for the Corrections Department stated that the Department of Health and CDC are working together on testing and preventing the further spread of infection.

At the beginning of the pandemic, several TB cases were reported as both Covid infection and TB have similar symptoms such as chest pain, cough, fever, night sweats, weight loss, and fatigue. Similarly, both are airborne disease, but TB patient needs a prolonged exposure time in comparison to Covid patient for infection. However, TB is a preventable, treatable, and curable disease with proper antibiotic therapy for a minimum of 6 months. 

(Source: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/973417 )