The Long Beach, Calif., city council voted Tuesday to ratify a local public health emergency order after a tuberculosis outbreak sickened several people.
The outbreak is linked to a single-occupancy hotel, a form of affordable housing intended for low- or minimal-income residents, according to the city’s public information office.
As of April 29, 14 cases have been confirmed and approximately 170 people have likely been exposed.
Nine were hospitalized and one person died.
Here’s everything you need to know about tuberculosis, including how it spreads, what the symptoms are, and how to prevent infection.
What is tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The bacteria usually attacks the lungs, but can also attack other parts of the body, including the kidneys, spine and brain.
Not everyone infected with TB bacteria gets sick, leading to two TB-related conditions: latent TB infection and TB disease.
People with latent TB infections will usually test positive for TB via a skin or blood test, but will not feel sick, have symptoms, or spread the TB bacteria to others.
During this time, people with tuberculosis who become ill often have symptoms such as chest pain, coughing up blood, fatigue, weakness, fever, chills, sweating, lack of appetite and weight loss, the CDC said. Additionally, a person with tuberculosis can pass the bacteria to others.
How is tuberculosis spread?
When a person with TB coughs, sneezes, talks, or sings, the bacteria can spread through the air and an uninfected patient can breathe in the bacteria. These bacteria can settle in the lungs and then travel throughout the body.
The disease is not spread by shaking hands, sharing food or drinks, touching clothing, touching bedding, sharing toothbrushes or kissing, according to the CDC.
The CDC said people with tuberculosis are more likely to spread the disease to close contacts, including family, friends, co-workers and classmates.
Those who are exposed to TB bacteria but are not infected cannot immediately transmit the disease to humans; only people with active disease can do so, according to the CDC.
“Before you can transmit TB to others, you would have to breathe in the TB bacteria and become infected,” the CDC says on its website. “Then the active bacteria should multiply in your body and cause active TB. At this point, you could potentially transmit the TB bacteria to others.”
What treatments are available for tuberculosis?
There are several treatment regimens for TB that can last four to nine months depending on the length of treatment. Healthcare providers may consider specific regimens for patients with coexisting conditions such as diabetes or HIV.
People with latent TB infections should consult a health care provider for a specific treatment regimen.
According to the CDC, about 5 to 10 percent of people who do not receive treatment for latent TB infection will develop TB at some point.
How to prevent tuberculosis
In the United States, the tuberculosis vaccine exists, but it is reserved for people who meet specific criteria and should be administered in consultation with a tuberculosis expert, according to the CDC.
In other countries where tuberculosis is common, the vaccine is often given to infants and young children.
The CDC recommends that Americans visiting other countries where TB is more common avoid close contact or prolonged stay with known TB patients in crowded, enclosed environments, and get a TB skin or blood test. their return to the United States.
What is the latest news on the outbreak in California?
Dr. Anissa Davis, public health officer for the City of Long Beach, declared a local public health emergency last week before it was ratified by the City Council on Tuesday.
This allows the city to mobilize resources, expedite emergency plans, coordinate with other agencies, and expedite the purchase of supplies needed for the identification and treatment of tuberculosis.
Long Beach public health officials say, however, that the risk of tuberculosis for people who live, work, study or visit Long Beach remains very low.
In 2022, 8,331 cases of tuberculosis were reported in the United States, an increase from 2021 but lower than 2019, according to CDC data. There were 602 deaths in 2021, the latest date for which data is available.
News Source : abcnews.go.com
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