A public health emergency has been declared in Southern California after a tuberculosis outbreak left at least one person dead and nine hospitalized.
Health officials said the outbreak was localized to guests at a single-room hotel in Long Beach, which the city health department declined to identify.
A total of 14 cases of tuberculosis were confirmed Monday, but investigators also identified 170 other people who may have been exposed, the city of Long Beach revealed.
Dr. Anissa Davis, the city’s public health officer, declared a local public health emergency Thursday in an effort to “strengthen the city’s preparedness and capacity to respond” to the localized outbreak.
Officials insist the risk of exposure to the general public is “low,” noting that the outbreak is limited to a “distinct population” of people facing “significant barriers to care, including homelessness and housing insecurity, mental illness, substance abuse, and serious medical comorbidities.” .’
Tuberculosis is a serious illness that usually attacks the lungs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The bacteria is spread through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks.
A public health emergency has been declared in Long Beach, California, after a localized outbreak of tuberculosis left at least one death and nine hospitalizations. Pictured is a stock photo of downtown Long Beach, seen in February 2023.
A total of 14 cases of tuberculosis were confirmed Monday, but investigators also identified 170 other people who may have been exposed. Pictured is a 3D illustration of the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis
The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services said people who stayed at the private hotel may have been exposed to tuberculosis and may have been contacted by the city.
Around 170 potentially exposed people have been identified and are being screened, the city reveals in a press release.
As of April 29, 14 cases associated with the outbreak have been confirmed, but officials expect that number, as well as the number of additional exposures, to increase.
“Those with active tuberculosis or latent tuberculosis infection will receive treatment,” the city said.
Officials declined to release the name or location of the hotel linked to the outbreak “to protect patient privacy and comply with HIPAA regulations” but said the facility is private and is not not managed by the city.
Health officials told the Los Angeles Times that the hotel was not under quarantine and remained open. It is unclear whether residents staying there were evacuated.
Tuberculosis is a serious illness that usually attacks the lungs, according to the CDC. The bacteria is spread through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. Pictured is a file photo of a chest x-ray of the tuberculosis patient.
Long Beach officials declared a state of public health emergency Thursday afternoon, citing that “the level of attention needed to contain the outbreak far exceeds the scope of the department’s daily work.”
Officials say the declaration, which will be formally voted on by the City Council on Tuesday, will “streamline the department’s ability to quickly obtain resources and take additional actions to contain the outbreak.”
“The affected population requires awareness and engagement, which requires significant staff time to conduct multiple interactions,” health officials said. “The department has exhausted its resources to manage this response without an emergency declaration.
“Testing and treating such a large number of people requires many resources. Declaring a public health emergency streamlines the department’s ability to quickly obtain resources and take additional measures to contain the outbreak.
The Ministry of Health was authorized to provide temporary accommodation, food and transportation to those who were exposed to the bacteria. The authority also covers the treatment of tuberculosis.
Neighboring Los Angeles County has not recorded any cases linked to the outbreak in Long Beach, but its disease control office intends to “support Long Beach” in fighting the outbreak, a spokesperson said. -speak to the LA Times.
The outbreak comes as tuberculosis cases appear to be increasing across the country.
Last year, the United States recorded the highest number of tuberculosis cases in a decade, according to a CDC report, with 40 states reporting an increase in the disease.
More than 9,600 cases of TB were reported in 2023, an increase of 16% from 2022 and the highest number of cases recorded since 2013.
Cases reportedly declined sharply at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, but authorities say they have increased since.
The number of cases in California increased by 15% in 2023 compared to the previous year. The state Department of Public Health said in March that the increase in tuberculosis cases was the largest year-over-year increase since 1989.
There were a total of 2,113 cases of tuberculosis recorded in California last year — roughly the same number reported in 2019, before the pandemic.
The outbreak in Long Beach follows a recent tuberculosis outbreak at migrant centers in Chicago.
Last month, the Chicago Department of Public Health revealed that city officials were urgently beginning contact tracing after tuberculosis cases were detected at a city migrant facility.
The Chicago Department of Public Health has not released the exact number of cases or which shelter they came from, but confirmed that “a small number of cases” have been reported “at a few different shelters” around the city.
The epidemic in Chicago followed a recent measles outbreak in city shelters. Authorities said at the time that “these outbreaks were occurring in close quarters, with people living in close proximity to each other” and reiterated that the public need not panic.
More than 9,600 cases of TB were reported in 2023, an increase of 16% from 2022 and the highest number of cases recorded since 2013.
Tuberculosis kills approximately 1.6 million people worldwide each year, making it one of the leading causes of death worldwide.
The infection spreads through patients’ coughs and sneezes and most commonly affects the lungs, although it can enter other parts of the body.
Early symptoms of the disease include cough, fever, night sweats and weight loss.
A serious TB infection can kill by destroying organs from the inside, causing them to bleed and fill with fluid.
Tuberculosis is particularly dangerous for people who are immunocompromised, such as those undergoing chemotherapy, and for those who do not have access to quality medical care.
But the infection can usually be cured with antibiotics. The BCG vaccine protects people against tuberculosis, but is only given to people at higher risk of getting the infection.
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