Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua – As of February 22, 2026, Chihuahua state has recorded 130 deaths attributed to tuberculosis (TB) over the past two years and two months, with nine fatalities occurring in the first six weeks of this year alone, according to Gumaro Barrios Gallegos, subdirector of Epidemiology for the state’s Secretary of Health.
Despite the rising number of cases – an 11.9 percent increase statewide – health officials maintain that Chihuahua is not experiencing a TB outbreak. Barrios Gallegos clarified that tuberculosis is an endemic infectious disease, consistently present within the population, and an outbreak would necessitate a surge in cases exceeding historical expectations within a specific timeframe and location.
In 2025, the state documented 890 confirmed TB cases and 121 deaths. This year, through the sixth epidemiological week, 93 cases and nine deaths have been reported. The current case fatality rate is approximately 10 percent, meaning one in ten patients diagnosed with TB succumb to the disease. Officials attribute a significant proportion of these deaths to delays in seeking medical attention, despite the availability of effective treatment.
The majority of confirmed cases this year, 63 out of 93, are among men, with 30 cases identified in women. Geographically, Ciudad Juárez and Chihuahua City account for 63 percent of the state’s total cases, reporting 36 and 23 cases respectively. Other municipalities with reported cases include Urique (7), Bocoyna (6), Batopilas, Cuauhtémoc, and Delicias (3 each), and Buenaventura, Camargo, Casas Grandes, and Guachochi (2 each). Smaller numbers of cases – one each – have been recorded in Balleza, Guadalupe y Calvo, Guazapares, and Saucillo.
The nine deaths recorded in 2026 were distributed across several municipalities: Guazapares, Juárez (with two deaths), Batopilas, Buenaventura, Cuauhtémoc, Guachochi, and Meoqui, each reporting one fatality. The victims included a child under the age of five, a student between 5 and 9 years old, a young adult aged 15 to 24, four individuals between 25 and 44 years old (two women and two men), and two women over the age of 65.
Barrios Gallegos explained that TB is transmitted through respiratory droplets via close and prolonged contact with an infected person, emphasizing that transmission does not occur through food consumption or casual contact. The pulmonary form of the disease accounts for 90 to 95 percent of cases, though TB can also affect bones, kidneys, skin, or the central nervous system.
The primary symptom of TB is a persistent cough lasting more than 14 days. As the disease progresses, patients may experience weight loss, decreased appetite, and fever. Health officials note that many patients delay seeking medical attention, attributing their cough to other chronic conditions, which contributes to delayed diagnosis.
The Secretaría de Salud initiates treatment upon confirmation of a case, utilizing a six-month regimen combining multiple medications into a single tablet. This includes an intensive phase lasting three months, followed by a continuation phase of equal duration. Throughout the treatment process, medical personnel conduct regular tests to monitor the elimination of the bacteria. Barrios Gallegos affirmed that the supply of medications is guaranteed for the entirety of 2026.
The state’s health authority is urging residents not to dismiss chronic coughs and to seek immediate medical attention. While no outbreak has been declared, the department maintains constant surveillance of the disease, given its potential for high mortality rates when left untreated or when treatment is discontinued.
