Long Beach, California, has declared a public health emergency after a deadly outbreak of tuberculosis (TB) at a local hotel housing homeless individuals. The outbreak has claimed one life and infected 14 others, with nine individuals requiring hospitalization. Although the identity of the deceased has not been disclosed, city officials have reassured the public that the outbreak is contained within a specific population, lowering the risk to the general public.
The affected population faces significant barriers to care, including homelessness, housing insecurity, mental illness, substance abuse, and other medical conditions. The city officials announced the public health emergency to enhance the city’s readiness and response to the outbreak, acknowledging the need for proactive measures to curb the spread of the disease.
Approximately 170 people have potentially been exposed to TB, prompting the Health Department to conduct screenings through symptom assessments, blood tests, skin tests, and chest X-rays among contacts. With expectations of more cases and contacts emerging, individuals diagnosed with active TB or latent TB infection will receive appropriate treatment as part of the response efforts.
To protect patient privacy and comply with health regulations, the name of the hotel where the outbreak occurred has not been disclosed. The facility is a private establishment independent of Long Beach city operations. TB, an airborne disease, primarily affects the lungs but can also target other organs such as the kidney, spine, and brain. Health experts note that TB is less contagious than COVID-19, typically transmitted through close contact with infected individuals.
With the TB outbreak coinciding with a recent rise in TB cases nationwide, concerns over the disease’s prevalence and impact have heightened. In 2023, the United States recorded a decade-high of 9,615 TB cases, up from 8,320 in 2022, indicating a concerning upward trend across all age groups. These numbers underscore the importance of vigilant public health measures and disease surveillance to curb the spread of infectious diseases like TB.