Outbreaks Of Highly Contagious Disease Reach Record High In CA
Patch • • health
Key Points:
- California reported over 2,150 Tuberculosis (TB) cases in 2025, marking the highest number in 12 years and nearly double the national incidence rate of 5.4 per 100,000 compared to 3 per 100,000 nationwide.
- A CDC report found that 79% of TB cases linked to large outbreaks between 2017 and 2023 were among U.S.-born individuals, with most outbreaks connected to family or social networks and a significant link to substance abuse.
- An outbreak at Archbishop Riordan High School in San Francisco led to 7 active TB cases and 241 latent cases, though recent testing shows a strong reduction in transmission and no further mass testing is required.
- Experts attribute California's rising TB rates to social determinants such as housing insecurity, substance use, immigration, and incarceration, emphasizing that TB disproportionately affects marginalized populations.
- The CDC study calls for enhanced national genomic surveillance and targeted local programs to overcome barriers related to homelessness and substance abuse to effectively prevent and control TB outbreaks.
