Officials in Long Beach, California have declared a public health emergency in response to a confirmed tuberculosis outbreak at a local single-room occupancy hotel.
The outbreak, which initially affected 14 individuals and resulted in one fatality, has prompted concerns regarding potential exposure among an additional 170 people, as stated by the Long Beach Public Information Office last Thursday. Nine individuals have been hospitalized, and sadly, one person has succumbed to the illness.
According to the statement, the outbreak is currently contained within a specific population, minimizing the risk to the general public. However, the individuals affected by this outbreak face significant obstacles to receiving care, including homelessness, housing instability, mental health issues, substance abuse, and other medical conditions.
The affected facility is a privately-owned hotel, and local health authorities are actively contacting individuals who stayed there during the exposure period or may have otherwise been exposed to assess their health status.
Health department personnel are conducting screenings for tuberculosis among contacts through symptom reviews, blood or skin tests, and chest x-rays, as mentioned in the statement.
With surveillance efforts expanding, officials anticipate an increase in the number of contacts identified in the coming days. To address the situation, preventative measures and a public awareness campaign about tuberculosis have been intensified across the city.
The Long Beach City Council is scheduled to ratify the emergency declaration on Tuesday, enabling the implementation of continued and expanded intervention efforts.
