(Radio Iowa) – One county in northeast Iowa reports a large increase in tuberculosis cases, a boost well above state and national averages. According to the Black Hawk County Public Health Department, the number of T-B cases roughly tripled in the past three years. Kaitlin Emrich, the county’s public health director, says the increase stems in part from native Pacific Islanders living in the county who didn’t have access to preventative care in their home countries. Black Hawk County is averaging about 12 T-B cases per 100-thousand people, while the national average is about two-point-five cases per 100-thousand, and the rest of the state averages almost two cases. The county averaged about four cases in 2021.