World's deadliest disease rips across California as clusters discovered at schools

Key Points:

• Tuberculosis exposures have been confirmed at multiple California schools, including Justin Garza High School in Fresno County and Sunset Elementary School in San Diego County, prompting health officials to initiate contact tracing and testing efforts.
• At Justin Garza High School, one active TB infection was identified, with 22 out of 169 exposed individuals testing positive for latent TB but showing no symptoms; no one on campus is currently contagious.
• San Diego County officials reported potential TB exposure at Sunset Elementary between July and October 2025, offering free screenings to at-risk students and staff, with those at highest risk already contacted.
• Health authorities emphasize that TB spreads through airborne transmission and can exist in latent or active forms, with symptoms including persistent cough, fever, night sweats, and weight loss; early testing is crucial for identifying infections.
• TB cases in San Diego County have increased from 193 in 2020 to 265 in 2025, reflecting a broader rise in tuberculosis incidents across California.