By SDCN Editor
San Diego, CA–The County of San Diego’s Tuberculosis Program has teamed up with Father Joe’s Villages to notify individuals who may have been exposed to tuberculosis at the Father Joe’s Joan Kroc Center.
The potential exposure dates range from October 13, 2023, to March 13, 2024. The notification is unrelated to a separate TB exposure incident in November 2023 at a different shelter operated by Father Joe’s Villages.
TB is an airborne disease spread through the inhalation of bacteria from the air. It is transmitted when an infected individual coughs, speaks, sings, or breathes. Individuals with frequent and prolonged indoor exposure to someone with TB should get tested. People experiencing homelessness are at a higher risk for TB due to factors such as close living quarters, limited healthcare access, and underlying medical conditions.
Although the TB rate is higher among people experiencing homelessness, 90% of TB cases in San Diego County are diagnosed in individuals who have not recently experienced homelessness.
“Symptoms of active TB include persistent cough, fever, night sweats, and unexplained weight loss.” She emphasized the importance of early detection and treatment, as latent TB infection can progress to active disease if left untreated,” said Dr. Wilma Wooten, County public health officer.
The number of active TB cases in San Diego County has slightly increased since 2021, following a decline since the early 1990s when over 400 cases were reported annually. In 2020, there were 193 TB cases, with 201 in 2021 and 208 in 2022. In 2023, approximately 243 people were reported with the active disease in the county. It is estimated that 175,000 people in San Diego County have latent infection, with 5-10% at risk of developing active TB if untreated.
Effective treatments are available for active TB, and individuals with symptoms or compromised immune systems should seek medical attention promptly. Those seeking more information on potential exposure can contact the County Tuberculosis Control Program at (619) 692-8621.
