New York City is reporting a massive rise in cases of tuberculosis even as tens of thousands of illegal aliens have flooded the city.

TB is a disease that the U.S. had mostly eradicated decades ago. For instance, according to the CDC, there were only about 8,300 cases reported in 2022 and 7,800 in 2021.

While that is a small number, NBC noted that cases had been rising since 2020, up more than 15 percent from 2020 to 2022.

Before the 1950s, TB had killed one in seven people, the American Experience reports. It was a terrible scourge.

Today, though, TB is a third-world disease.

But now, New York City is reporting that the Big Apple is suffering 500 cases of this third-world disease, according to the Daily Mail.

Gee, I wonder why?

Some health officials say the surge is being driven by fatigue following the Covid pandemic — with some people avoiding clinics and treatments — and cuts to funding — with the only TB clinic in Manhattan recently shuttered.

There are also fears the migrant crisis in New York City, which has seen more than 100,000 migrants arriving in the city since spring, could be driving the infection rates because this group is at a heightened risk of infection due to cramped housing conditions.

So, what do you think, dear readers? Is TB surging because of … um… COVID?

Even though rates have been falling for decades? Only to take an upturn since all these tens of thousands of migrants have flooded the city? Is that logical?

Cross-posted with iPatriot.