Solano County is still grappling with elevated cases of tuberculosis (TB), a contagious disease that primarily causes lung infections. Public Health officials say the fight against TB requires continued vigilance and hard work to identify active cases and provide treatment.
According to Dr. Cameron Kaiser, deputy public health officer and TB controller for Solano County, “We can end TB, but it’s going to take good treatment options, a lot of hard work, and vigilance.” The county recently evaluated 107 individuals with suspected TB disease in 2024, resulting in 21 cases of active tuberculosis.
TB cases have rebounded to pre-pandemic levels in California, with 2,100 people diagnosed with active TB disease in 2024. The state’s TB case rate is nearly double the national rate, and California ranks among the top states for TB mortality rates. In 2022, 258 Californians died from TB, with a quarter of those dying before they could be treated.
While treatment is available, it can take months and may be difficult for some patients to complete due to cost or side effects. Approximately 1 in 10 people with latent tuberculosis will develop active disease if left untreated.
Solano County’s TB control measures include identifying and isolating active cases, evaluating contacts, providing treatment, and making testing and diagnosis easier. The county also offers public health nursing services to manage patients and their contacts.
To protect themselves, individuals with a history of untreated latent TB or who may have been exposed to an active TB case should consult their primary care provider about treatment options. For more information on TB control in Solano County, visit solanocounty.com/depts/ph/nb/cdcp/tbcp.asp.
Source: https://www.thereporter.com/2025/03/25/county-public-health-officials-tb-is-still-with-us