Tuberculosis outbreak: Why this city has declared a public health emergency

The implicated facility is a privately-owned hotel. Local health officials are reaching out to individuals who stayed at the hotel during the exposure period or who might have otherwise been exposed, in order to assess and determine if they have contracted the disease.

"Health Department staff are in the process of screening contacts for TB via symptom review, blood or skin test, and a chest x-ray," the statement continued.

Health officials expect "the number of contacts to increase" in the upcoming days as surveillance expands. Preventative measures and a public awareness campaign about tuberculosis have been ramped up throughout the city, according to the officials.

The emergency declaration is set to be ratified by the Long Beach City Council on Tuesday, allowing for continued and expanded intervention measures.

A national trend

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis, spreads through the air much like COVID-19 but tends to require prolonged exposure, making crowded and poorly ventilated environments a high-risk factor.

"While TB is a serious condition, it is important to remember that not everyone exposed to the bacteria will become infected, and not every infected person will become sick," said Dr. Anissa Davis, the City of Long Beach's top health officer.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), TB symptoms can include a long-lasting cough, chest pain and coughing up blood. Other symptoms are fatigue, a lack of appetite, chills or fever and sweating at night.

Although a vaccine for TB exists, it is rarely used in the U.S. and does not guarantee protection against the disease. Untreated infections can sometimes be fatal.

The outbreak in Long Beach comes at a time when there has been a substantial increase in TB cases in California, per the state's Department of Public Health. In 2023, the number of reported cases increased by 271 (15%) from 1,842 in 2022 to 2,113 in 2023.

It's a trend that mirrors national data. In 2023, the CDC reported 9,615 provisional TB cases in the United States, up from 8,895 in 2019, the last pre-pandemic year. The increase is likely a result of the ongoing recovery from pandemic-related healthcare disruptions, global increases in TB cases, and more frequent travel and migration post-pandemic.

As before the pandemic, TB rates in 2023 were highest among non-U.S.-born people.

Despite an uptick in cases, the U.S. continues to maintain one of the lowest TB incidence rates in the world, and domestic Tuberculosis transmission remains relatively rare.

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

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