Long Beach, California is facing a public health crisis due to an outbreak of tuberculosis, as stated by City Health Officer Dr. Anissa Davis.
The declaration of a public health emergency is pending ratification by the Long Beach City Council. Approximately 170 individuals are believed to have been exposed to tuberculosis, primarily linked to a single room occupancy hotel. While 14 cases have been confirmed as of Monday, with nine requiring hospitalization and one fatality, the city emphasizes that the overall risk to the public remains low.
To safeguard patient privacy, the hotel's name will not be disclosed, but the health department is actively reaching out to those who may have been exposed. The affected population faces various challenges, including homelessness, mental illness, and substance use, complicating access to care. Health department personnel are conducting screenings for tuberculosis symptoms and administering tests and X-rays to contacts.
Declaring a public health emergency enables the department to swiftly secure resources and implement containment measures.
Tuberculosis, a curable bacterial infection primarily affecting the lungs, can be treated with antibiotics and prevented through screening and vaccination. Recent data from the CDC indicates a concerning trend of tuberculosis cases approaching pre-pandemic levels in the United States, following a decline in reported cases during the pandemic, suggesting potential missed or delayed diagnoses.
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