DPH reports TB cases at Archbishop Reardon High School; officials urge targeted testing and treatment

The San Francisco Department of Public Health updated the Health Commission on a cluster of tuberculosis cases linked to Archbishop Reardon High School, saying an initial active case detected late last year prompted testing of roughly 1,200 students and 200 staff and has so far identified about 50 latent TB infections.

"We started working with the school immediately to begin testing of all 1,200 students and 200 staff," Director Tsai said. "Most of the cases have been latent; latent TB is not infectious, and the gold standard is to quickly get them on treatment so they are not likely to develop active, contagious disease."

DPH staff said active cases are being treated and contacts are being quarantined or monitored as needed. The department described a robust contact‑tracing effort involving its communicable‑diseases and TB teams and said clinical guidance for physicians was issued to target testing and follow‑up. Dr. Susan Phillip (county health officer for TB, referenced in the presentation) was identified as the point person for technical follow‑up.

Commissioners and members of the public asked for more detailed, plain‑language messaging for families and for follow‑up briefings with TB specialists. Commissioner Christian said she wanted clear public instructions on when people should seek testing or care and requested a public explainer on the department’s website.

DPH said it would bring the TB division back to the commission or publish an explainer online; the department emphasized that broader community screening was not recommended at this time outside identified at‑risk groups (the students and staff identified through contact tracing).