[[{“value”:”According to a tuberculosis outbreak, health officials in a California city have declared a “public health emergency.”
According to the Los Angeles Times,” Long Beach officials declared a public health emergency on Thursday afternoon after one person died and nine others were taken to the hospital as a result of a tuberculosis outbreak in the city.”
According to the City of Long Beach,” Dr. Anissa Davis, a member of the Long Beach Health Department, declared a local public health emergency to improve the City’s capacity and preparedness to deal with a localized tuberculosis ( TB ) outbreak.”
OFFICIAL STATEMENT Today, Dr. Anissa Davis, our @LBHealthDept Officer, declared a local public health emergency to improve the City’s capacity and preparedness for a localized tuberculosis ( TB ) outbreak.
Click around. https ://t.co/Y1AZJfikW0 pic. twitter.com/3aQpISuO0D
— City of Long Beach ( @LongBeachCity ) May 2, 2024
” Today, May 2, 2024, City Health Officer Dr. Anissa Davis declared a local public health emergency to strengthen the City’s preparedness and ability to respond to a localized tuberculosis ( TB ) outbreak. The Long Beach City Council will take this declaration into consideration for ratification on Tuesday, May 7, according to a press release from the City of Long Beach.
The risk to the general public is low, and the outbreak is now limited to a particular population. The population at risk in this outbreak has major barriers to care including homelessness and housing insecurity, mental illness, substance use and serious medical comorbidities”, the press release continued.
BREAKING: California’s Long Beach declared a public health emergency after a tuberculosis outbreak left one person dead and nine others hospitalized. – KTLA
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper ) May 3, 2024
From the City of Long Beach:
Several individuals have recently been linked to a single room occupancy ( SRO ) hotel in Long Beach. As of April 29, this outbreak had 14 cases of TB disease in it, nine people have been hospitalized at some point during their illness, and one person has died. To protect patient privacy and comply with HIPAA regulations, the name of the hotel will never be released. The hotel is a secret hotel that is never owned or managed by the City of Long Beach. The Health Department has spoken to people who were staying at the hotel at the time or who might have otherwise been exposed.
Everyone who has TB disease who has been affected by this outbreak is treated through the Health Department’s TB Control Program, which likewise provides temporary housing, food, and transportation. Many medications are needed to treat TB disease, and treatment is carried out on a first-time basis by TB Control staff.
Staff have identified about 170 people who have likely been exposed to TB through the course of this investigation. Through a chest x-ray, blood or skin tests, and a screening for TB in contacts, the Health Department staff is currently going about doing so. The Health Department anticipates an increase in cases and contacts among those who have been a part of this outbreak. Treatment will be provided for those who are found to have effective or hidden TB disease. The level of care required to stop the outbreak is far beyond the Department’s daily duties. Concerned populations demand mentoring and involvement, which requires time for the staff to conduct various interactions.
Several resources are required to screen and treat such a large population. The Department is more able to immediately secure resources and take further steps to halt the outbreak by declaring a public health emergency.
Long Beach health officials declare tuberculosis outbreak a public health emergency https ://t.co/gI7HF5EPSV
— Los Angeles Times ( @latimes ) May 3, 2024
The Los Angeles Times reports:
The date of the second case ever recorded was unknown by public health officials.
The outbreak occurs at a time when a rise in tuberculosis cases is occurring nationwide.
California’s Department of Public Health reported in March that the number of cases in 2023 increased by 15 % from the same period last year. That is the highest year over year increase since 1989, when it was related to HIV-positive individuals.
In total, there were 2, 113 cases nationwide next year, about the same amount reported in 2019, before the COVID- 19 pandemic.
Officials declined to disclose the Long Beach business or the outbreak’s location in order to protect patient privacy.
Davis claimed that the facility is run by the city of Long Beach and is not owned by the city.
Health officials in Long Beach confirmed that the hotel was also open despite not being quarantined. Whether or not residents who were residing at the facility were relocated away is a mystery.”}]] [[{“value”:”
A California city has declared a “public health emergency” due to an outbreak of tuberculosis.
Los Angeles Times reports that “Long Beach officials declared an emergency on Thursday afternoon, after one person died and another nine were hospitalized because of a tuberculosis epidemic in the city.”
The City of Long Beach announced that “Long Beach Health Department officer Dr. Anissa Davies declared a local health emergency in order to strengthen the City’s preparedness and response to a localized TB outbreak.”
OFFICIAL STATEMENT Dr. Anissa Davies, @LBHealthDept Officer, declared a local health emergency today to strengthen the City’s preparedness and response to a localized TB outbreak.
Click here. https://t.co/Y1AZJfikW0 pic.twitter.com/3aQpISuO0D
City of Long Beach, @LongBeachCity, May 2, 2024
“Today, Tuesday, May 7, 2024, Dr. Anissa D. Davis, City Health Officer, declared a local health emergency in order to improve the City’s readiness and ability to respond effectively to a localized TB outbreak. The Long Beach City Council will consider ratifying this declaration on Tuesday, 7 May,” read a press release from the City of Long Beach.
“The outbreak is isolated to a specific population, and the risk for the general public is very low.” The press release stated that the population at risk of this outbreak faces significant barriers to care, including homelessness, housing insecurity and mental illness.
BREAKING: California declared a public emergency in Long Beach after a tuberculosis epidemic left one person dead, and nine others hospitalized. KTLA
Insider Paper @TheInsiderPaper May 3, 2024
From the City of Long Beach :
TB has been detected in several individuals who are associated with a SRO hotel in Long Beach. As of April 29th, 14 cases of TB were associated with this outbreak. Nine people were hospitalized at one point during their illness and one person died. The name of the hotel is not released to protect patient privacy or comply with HIPAA regulations. The facility is not operated or contracted by the City of Long Beach. The Health Department has contacted or will contact people who were at the hotel or could have been exposed.
The TB Control Program of the Health Department provides treatment for all those with TB who are affected by this outbreak. It also provides them with temporary housing, food, and transportation if necessary. The treatment for TB disease involves months of multiple medications. Staff from TB Control monitors the medication as it is administered.
During the course of this investigation staff identified approximately 170 individuals who were likely exposed to TB. Staff at the Health Department are screening contacts for TB using a symptom review, a blood or skin test, and x-rays of the chest. The Health Department will continue screening individuals associated with the outbreak and expects that the number of contacts and cases will increase. Those with active TB disease, or latent TB infections, will be treated. The Department’s daily work cannot provide the level of attention required to contain an outbreak. The population of concern needs outreach and engagement. This requires significant staff time for multiple interactions.
The screening and treatment of such a large population requires many resources. Declaring a public emergency allows the Department to more quickly secure resources and take further action to contain an outbreak.
Long Beach health officials declare tuberculosis outbreak a public health emergency https://t.co/gI7HF5EPSV
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) May 3, 2024
The Los Angeles Times reports.
Public Health officials could not confirm the date the first case was recorded.
The outbreak occurs at a time when tuberculosis cases are on the rise in the state.
In March, the California Department of Public Health announced that the number of cases in California in 2023 would increase by 15% compared to the previous year. This is the highest increase in cases since 1989 when HIV co-infected people were responsible.
There were 2,113 cases reported statewide in total last year. This is about the same number as was reported in 2019 before the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Officials declined to reveal the Long Beach business location or outbreak due to patient privacy concerns.
Davis said that the facility is not operated by Long Beach and is privately owned.
Long Beach health officials confirmed that the hotel in question is still open and not quarantined. It is unclear if residents of the facility have been moved out.
“}]]
