County public health officials report 17% rise in TB last year

County Public Health officials are reporting a 17% increase in active tuberculosis cases in San Diego County.

In 2023, 243 cases of TB were reported, exceeding the average of 205 cases in 2021 and 2022. Over the last 10 years, reported cases have ranged from an annual high of 264 in 2019 and a low of 193 in 2020.

TB is a disease that is passed through the air from person to person when someone who is sick with TB coughs, speaks, sings or breathes.

TB cases in recent years declined during the pandemic, likely because of multiple factors. Some COVID-19-related precautions such as masking and soc...