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Long Beach health officials report TB outbreak response, urge screening under new state law
Summary
Long Beach Health Department said tuberculosis cases rose 84% from 2022–2024, outlined an outbreak response that identified 16 active cases and evaluated 77% of high‑risk contacts, and urged providers to screen patients with risk factors under a new 2025 state law.
Long Beach’s health officer briefed the City Council on a citywide tuberculosis response and urged clinicians and residents to use new screening rules intended to prevent latent TB from progressing to active disease.
Dr. Davis, the city health officer, said tuberculosis cases in Long Beach rose 84% from 2022 to 2024 and described an outbreak that included 16 identified active cases. Public health staff and partnering agencies identified 352 contacts for outreach; public health completed full evaluations for roughly 77% of people at highest risk, Dr. Davis said. Public health provided directly observed therapy and wraparound supports including housing, rent assistance, food and transportation services to people undergoing several months of TB treatment.
City staff declared a public health emergency to accelerate staffing and response resources, Dr. Davis said, and credited interagency assistance from LA County Public Health, California Department of Public Health and the CDC. He reported that 20 people completed treatment for latent TB in the response, which the department estimates prevents future active cases.
Dr. Davis also noted a state law effective Jan. 1, 2025, requiring primary care providers to offer TB screening to patients with identified risk factors — for example, people born in or who spent a month in countries with elevated TB rates, people who are immunosuppressed, or people who were close contacts of an infectious TB case. He encouraged clinicians to use blood testing for latent TB infection and to offer treatment when indicated.
Council members thanked health staff and other departments for the “all of city” response. Dr. Davis asked the council to continue support for public health staffing and resources to sustain outbreak response capacity.
