Tuberculosis outbreak at Long Beach hotel leaves 1 dead, 9 hospitalized [Video]

LONG BEACH, Calif. – A tuberculosis outbreak among residents of a single-room occupancy hotel in Long Beach has left one person dead and led to the hospitalizations of nine others, prompting the declaration of a public health emergency, city officials said Thursday.

The city Department of Health and Human Services insists the risk of exposure to the general public is low, with the outbreak restricted to a “distinct population” of people with “significant barriers to care, including homelessness and housing insecurity, mental illness, substance abuse and serious medical comorbidities.”

As of April 29, a total of 14 cases have been associated with the outbreak. The city declined to release the name of the hotel at the center of the outbreak, citing patient privacy concerns.

City Health Officer Dr. Anissa Davis declared a local public health emergency in response to the outbreak. The declaration is expected to be ratified by the Long Beach City Council on …