The state of California saw an increase of 15 percent in active Tuberculosis cases from 2022 to 2023, with an even greater increase seen in San Joaquin County, 55 percent, for the same time period, which represents the largest single year increase in 30 years.

In light of this data and in conjunction with World Tuberculosis Day on March 24, San Joaquin County Public Health has reiterated its commitment to combatting the rise of TB disease and providing community education, testing services, healthcare provider consultation, and active case management for the community. World TB Day was established in 1982 by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Union Against TB and Lung Disease (IUATLD) to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the discovery of the TB bacillus by Dr. Robert Koch on March 24, 1882.

TB is a contagious disease that is spread through the air, from person to person, when someone with active TB coughs and those around them become infected when they breathe in the bacteria. Those with active TB will have symptoms such as cough with or without bloody sputum, fever or night sweats, weight loss, and fatigue, and they can continue to spread the disease. Some people will live with TB infection without developing active TB symptoms – this is called latent TB – but one in 10 people with latent TB who are not treated will progress to active TB. This risk is even higher in people with immunocompromised conditions or certain chronic diseases.

TB has significant adverse consequences, as 50 percent of people with TB are hospitalized and 13 percent die with TB before or during treatment every year. According to county Public Health Officer Dr. Maggie Park, “State data shows that annually, approximately 200 people die with TB, which means someone dies with TB every other day in California.”

TB can be preventable. Most (86 percent) of the new active TB cases each year arise from progression of untreated latent TB disease. This means most cases of new active TB are preventable through testing and treatment for latent TB. Over two million Californians have latent TB, and most are unaware of their infection or are untreated.

“Early identification and treatment of people with latent TB can impact and hopefully reverse the rise of TB cases in the county,” said county Tuberculosis Controller Dr. Cristina Almeida.

How to protect yourself and others

Evaluate your risk for TB: Am I at Risk?

Ask your healthcare provider for testing if you feel you are at increased risk or have been exposed to someone with TB or have symptoms of TB.

If you are diagnosed with TB

Follow the recommendations of your healthcare provider and local public health department to isolate yourself from others while you are still infectious.

Don’t forget to keep following up with your healthcare provider and public health case managers to keep track of TB symptoms and response to medicine.

Whether you are being treated for acute or latent TB infection, complete all your medication as prescribed. Incomplete treatment can lead to TB bacterial resistance, return of symptoms, or even hospitalization and death.