Scanning electron micrograph of Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria, which cause TB. Credit: NIAID

The Fresno County Department of Public Health (FCDPH) is investigating a potential tuberculosis exposure linked to California State University Fresno and Fresno City College, in collaboration with their student health clinics.

FCDPH did not provide any specifics about the nature of the exposure.

Students and staff who may have been exposed will be asked to complete a survey and will be offered testing to assess their risk for TB infection. This partnership aims to ensure that all individuals who might have been exposed are notified and tested, reducing further risk and facilitating necessary treatment if needed, according to a news release.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), TB is a bacterial infection primarily affecting the lungs, although it can also impact other areas of the body, such as the brain, kidneys, or spine. Active TB can spread from one person to another when an infected individual coughs, sneezes, or talks. TB remains a serious, yet preventable disease in the United States.

Symptoms of active TB might include:

A cough that lasts three weeks or longer
Coughing up blood or sputum (phlegm from deep inside the lungs)
Unexplained weight loss
Loss of appetite
Fever
Night sweats

According to the California Department of Public Health:

In 2023, the number of reported active TB cases increased from 1,842 in 2022 to 2,113 in 2023, an increase of 271 cases (15%). Tuberculosis case counts in 2023 are similar to those in 2019.

From 2020 through 2023, active TB cases in California have been increasing each year for a total increase of 24% during this period.

From 2010 – 2020, the chance of dying from TB in California has increased. In 2010, the chance of dying from active TB was 8% but that number in 2020 was 13%.

In the past two years, Fresno County experienced a rise in active TB cases, with 31 cases reported in 2022 and 39 cases in 2023.The FCDPH TB Control Program has also seen an unusual number of severe TB infections in recent months among young individuals requiring hospitalizations and short-term medical care.

For more information on TB visit https://www.cdc.gov/tb/index.html.