Santa Clara County health officials issue a critical warning to South Bay residents, urging those at an elevated risk for tuberculosis (TB) to undergo testing and seek prompt treatment. Alarming statistics from the Santa Clara County Public Health Department reveal a concerning 19% increase in TB cases in 2023 compared to the previous year.
Emphasizing that this data does not indicate an outbreak but rather a growing community health risk for this contagious illness, Dr. Ann Loeffler, the county’s tuberculosis controller, reported 168 confirmed cases during a briefing on Tuesday.
Acknowledging the widespread and escalating threat, Loeffler emphasized the necessity of testing and treatment, stating, “A significant number of community members, our neighbors, got sick and required intensive treatment.”
Santa Clara County, with an estimated 170,000 carriers of the TB bacteria and up to 13 million nationwide, faces a critical situation. While 5 to 10 percent of individuals with the bacteria may develop the disease over their lifetime, untreated TB can be fatal.
Loeffler highlighted the potential for individuals to unknowingly carry the bacteria for years, making early detection crucial. Symptoms include an unexplained persistent cough lasting several weeks, coughing up blood, chest pain, fever, and weight loss.
Those at the highest risk of TB disease include those recently exposed, children under 5 years old, individuals with weakened immune systems (such as those with HIV, diabetes, or on immune-suppressing medications), and smokers.
The Santa Clara County Public Health Department strongly encourages individuals at an increased risk to undergo a simple skin or blood test for infection detection. A comprehensive list of testing sites is available on the health department’s website, emphasizing the urgency of proactive measures to curb the rising TB cases in the community.
