In Long Beach, a single-room occupancy hotel has experienced a tuberculosis outbreak that has resulted in one death and nine hospitalizations. The city officials have declared a public health emergency due to the severity of the situation.
The Department of Health and Human Services in the city has stated that the risk of exposure to the general public is low, as the outbreak is limited to a specific population facing various challenges such as homelessness, housing insecurity, mental illness, substance abuse, and significant medical issues. As of April 29, there have been a total of 14 cases associated with the outbreak, though the name of the hotel has not been disclosed to protect patient privacy.
The City Health Officer, Dr. Anissa Davis, has declared a local public health emergency in response to the outbreak, with ratification expected by the Long Beach City Council. Health officials are actively reaching out to individuals who may have been exposed and are in the process of screening approximately 170 people who were potentially exposed, with more cases and exposures anticipated.
Those found to have active TB disease or latent TB infection will be provided with treatment. Given the scale of the outbreak and the specific needs of the affected population, the city requires additional resources to address the situation effectively. Declaring a public health emergency allows for streamlined access to resources and the ability to take swift action to contain the outbreak.
