San Joaquin County Public Health Services officials has announced last week that the county saw a large increase from 2022 to 2023 in active tuberculosis cases.
County officials said the state saw an increase in active TB cases by 15 percent from 2022 to 2023 but San Joaquin County rose 55 percent in the same time period.
Tuberculosis is a contagious disease that spreads through the air from person to person. For example, when a person with active TB coughs, anyone around them can become infected when they breathe in the bacteria, according to public health officials.
With Sunday marking World Tuberculosis Day, county health officials said they combat the disease by providing community education, testing services, health care provider consultation and active case management for the community.
Symptoms for active TB can consist of a cough with or without bloody phlegm, fever or night sweats, weight loss, and fatigue.
Some people develop latent tuberculosis, where no symptoms are present, and they can’t spread the disease.
“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,” public health officials said in a statement.
San Joaquin County public health officer Dr. Maggie Park said state data showed that annually about 200 people die with TB, meaning someone dies with TB every other day in the state.