170 people ‘likely exposed’ to tuberculosis in Long Beach outbreak

Public health officials warned of an ongoing tuberculosis outbreak in Long Beach, California, prompting a declaration of a health emergency. They estimate 170 people have been exposed, with 9 patients hospitalized and one dying.  The Long Beach City council will consider a formal declaration this week.  This follows an increase in active cases of TB throughout the State of California, followed by an increase in cases during 2023 of 15%.  Treatment includes months of multiple broad-spectrum antibiotics prescribed together and is generally effective, but 10-15% become latent (dormant) and may reactivate later as the patient becomes immunocompromised.   Trana Discovery has plans to identify novel therapies that will provide a selective treatment.