Maine Reports 28 Tuberculosis Cases Including 3 Active Portland Instances

Maine health officials report three active cases of tuberculosis (TB) in the Greater Portland area, with no evidence of an outbreak. Each case was individually contracted and not genetically linked, indicating no direct transmission between the patients. The Maine CDC is actively identifying and screening individuals who may have been in contact with those infected. While TB cases have been increasing nationally since 2021 due to factors like international travel, migration, and healthcare disruptions during the pandemic, Maine has seen 28 cases so far in 2025 without an outbreak. Officials have also dispelled rumors of a TB outbreak at a shelter for asylum seekers in Portland. Tuberculosis, once a deadly disease, is now treatable with antibiotics, and the likelihood of transmission remains low according to the CDC.