East County News Service
March 23, 2026 (San Diego County) –While tuberculosis (TB) is often dismissed as a disease of the past, San Diego County health officials warned Monday, March 23, that the region is currently a hotspot for the infection, with local rates now outpacing state and national averages.
In an event held at Waterfront Park on Monday morning, County Supervisor Paloma Aguirre and top health officials, including County Public Health Officer Dr. Sayone Thihalolipavan and Dr. Jeffrey Percak, Medical Director for County TB Prevention and Care, highlighted a concerning trend: after years of decline, the number of people diagnosed with TB in San Diego has been rising steadily since 2020.
According to the latest data, San Diego’s TB rate reached 8 cases per 100,000 people last year. This is nearly 50 percent higher than the California state average (5.4 per 100,000) and more than double the national rate (3.1 per 100,000).
Health leaders revealed that the active cases are only the tip of the iceberg.
An estimated 175,000 San Diegans are currently living with latent TB infection (LTBI). While these individuals are not currently sick or contagious, the bacteria are “sleeping” in their bodies and can become active and life-threatening at any time if their immune systems are weakened.
The briefing comes ahead of World Tuberculosis Day on March 24, marking the anniversary of the discovery of the TB bacterium in 1882. Globally, the disease still affects one in four people. TB remains the world’s leading infectious disease killer, claiming more than 1.2 million lives annually.
In San Diego County, the Tuberculosis Prevention and Care Branch is leading the charge to eliminate the disease through public-private partnerships and surveillance. Under California Health and Safety Code Section 121365, local healthcare providers are mandated to report suspected cases to the County within one working day, allowing for rapid “contact investigations” to prevent community spread.
Additionally, as a major global transit and refugee resettlement hub, San Diego works closely with the Refugee Health Assessment Program to provide screenings and care for arrivals from regions where TB remains endemic.
San Diego County is currently seeing a concerning upward trend. In 2025, the County recorded 265 active TB diagnoses, marking the fifth consecutive year of increases and the highest total in more than a decade.
TB is an airborne disease spread when an infected person coughs, speaks, or sings. While it primarily affects the lungs, it can impact any part of the body.
Key symptoms include: persistent cough; fever and night sweats; and unexplained weight loss.
Officials noted that 14% of people diagnosed with TB in 2023 did not survive treatment. Vulnerable populations include young children under five, people with diabetes or weakened immune systems, and those experiencing homelessness or incarceration.
To combat the surge, the County is leaning into the TB Elimination Initiative, a public-private partnership launched in 2020 that now includes more than 25 healthcare and community organizations.
Under California health code, local providers must report suspected TB cases within one working day. This allows the County’s Tuberculosis Prevention and Care Branch to conduct rapid “contact investigations” to halt community spread.
If you believe you have been exposed or have underlying risk factors, health officials urge you to contact your healthcare provider.
More information is available here. The County TB program can be reached at (619) 692-5565 for information on screenings and specialized care.
In a symbolic gesture of awareness, the County Administration Center will be illuminated in red on Tuesday night, joining landmarks across the globe to mark World TB Day.