A public health emergency has been declared in Southern California due to a tuberculosis outbreak that resulted in one death and hospitalization of nine others.
The outbreak was confined to a single-room occupancy hotel in Long Beach, although health officials have chosen not to disclose its specific location.
As of Monday, a total of 14 cases have been confirmed. However, the health department's tuberculosis control team has identified an additional 170 individuals who are likely to have been exposed.
These individuals are currently undergoing or will undergo screening through various methods, including chest x-rays, blood and skin tests, and symptom assessment, according to health officials. City Health Officer Dr. Anissa Davis declared a local public health emergency on Thursday to "enhance the city's readiness and ability to respond" to the localized outbreak.
Officials maintain that the risk of exposure to the general public is "low," emphasizing that the outbreak is confined to a "specific population" facing "significant barriers to care," such as homelessness, housing insecurity, mental illness, substance abuse, and serious medical conditions.
Health officials in Long Beach have confirmed that the hotel in question is not under quarantine and remains open.
The date of the first recorded case could not be confirmed by Public Health officials, but it has emerged amidst a rise in cases across the state.
In 2023, California saw a 15 percent increase in cases compared to the previous year, as reported by the state Department of Public Health in March.
Tuberculosis, a fully preventable and treatable disease, claims the lives of at least 1.3 million people annually, more than any other infectious disease.
Symptoms include a persistent cough lasting more than three weeks, chest pain, weight loss, extreme fatigue, loss of appetite, high temperature, swollen glands, headaches, and body aches.
TB infections are mostly airborne, transmitted through bacteria expelled by an infected person. The disease is preventable through effective vaccines, testing, and treatments.
Scientists suggest that a new blood test capable of identifying millions of individuals unknowingly spreading tuberculosis could be developed soon, potentially making contracting the disease significantly more difficult.
The current increase in TB cases can be attributed to various factors. Economic disparities are partly responsible for the resurgence of this social disease. Additionally, the interruption of monitoring, prevention, and treatment efforts during the Covid pandemic has contributed to the sharp rise in TB cases.