Long Beach city officials declared a public health emergency Thursday afternoon after a tuberculosis outbreak in the city left one person dead and nine hospitalized.
Dr. Anissa Davis, the city's chief health officer, said the outbreak was isolated to a single-room hotel, which health officials declined to identify.
As of Monday, there were a total of 14 confirmed cases. However, the health department's tuberculosis control staff identified an additional 170 people who may have been infected.
Health officials say these people are being tested or will be tested in one of several ways, including chest X-rays, blood tests, skin tests and a review of symptoms.
Davis said people who were staying at the hotel at the time or who may have been exposed in other ways have been or will be contacted.
Public health officials could not confirm the date of the first recorded case.
The outbreak comes at a time when tuberculosis infections are on the rise across the state.
The state Department of Public Health announced in March that the number of infections in California in 2023 will increase by 15% compared to the previous year. This is the highest year-over-year increase in cases related to people co-infected with HIV since 1989.
Statewide, cases last year totaled 2,113, about the same number reported in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
To protect patient privacy, officials declined to disclose the Long Beach business or the location of the outbreak.
Davis said the facility is private and not operated by the city of Long Beach.
Long Beach health officials confirmed that the hotel in question is not under quarantine and remains open. It is unclear whether the residents who were staying at the facility have left.
Davis said the health department has the authority to provide temporary housing, food and transportation to infected people.
Treatment for tuberculosis is also covered by the health department.
Long Beach Public Information Officer Jennifer Rice Epstein said the first positive test was confirmed at a local hospital.
Mr Davis said the outbreak is currently isolated and the “risk to the general public is low”.
Low-income people at risk from this outbreak “have significant barriers to care, including homelessness and housing insecurity, mental illness, substance use, and serious comorbidities,” Davis said.
Rice-Epstein said residents who think they may be infected should seek medical care.
Long Beach health officials say the disease is a serious, airborne illness similar to COVID-19. However, unlike COVID-19, tuberculosis usually requires long-term exposure.
“Tuberculosis is usually spread by people who live together in close quarters,” Rice-Epstein said. “It spreads more easily in poorly ventilated rooms.”
The state of emergency declaration is expected to be formally voted on by the City Council on Tuesday. Officials say if approved, the health department will be able to mobilize city resources, streamline staffing and coordinate with outside agencies.
Adjacent Los Angeles County has no cases linked to the Long Beach outbreak, public health officials said.
But a department spokesperson said the agency will deploy personnel from the Health and Disease Control Service and other departments to “support Long Beach.”
