Community Announcement

WORLD TUBERCULOSIS DAY: MARCH 24, 2026

San Joaquin County Public Health Services (PHS) recognizes World TB Day, observed on March 24 to commemorate the day the tuberculosis bacterium was discovered by Dr. Robert Koch in 1882. In honor of this day, PHS reminds residents and medical providers that tuberculosis can be a deadly disease but is preventable and curable. Prompt identification and treatment are essential.

Current Situation: California has a TB incidence rate that is substantially higher than the national incidence rate. There was a total of 2,150 total active TB cases in California in 2025, compared with 2,109 in 2024. With a case rate of 6.8 active TB cases per 100,000 population, San Joaquin County has the 7th highest case rate of all California counties.

Dr. Maggie Park, Public Health Officer for San Joaquin County, notes that, “Our county had a total of 55 newly diagnosed active TB cases in 2025, which is quite high. It’s disappointing but not surprising that our ranking moved from 12th in the state to 7th. TB is far from being eradicated, and World TB Day is a reminder both for public health and to our community that we must re-commit every year to the goal of ending TB.”

TB is a contagious disease that is spread through the air from person-to-person when someone with active TB coughs and those around them become infected when they breathe in the airborne bacteria. Those with active TB will have symptoms such as cough with or without bloody sputum, fever or night sweats, weight loss, and fatigue, and they can continue to spread the disease. Some people will live with TB infection without developing active TB symptoms (this is called latent TB), but 1-in-10 people with latent TB who are not treated will progress to active TB. This risk is even higher in people with immuno-compromised conditions, or with certain chronic diseases.

TB infection can be prevented. Unfortunately, the percentage of people with TB who die has been increasing. TB kills more than 200 Californians each year. PHS emphasizes the need to treat latent TB cases because the vast majority (83%) are attributable to latent cases progressing to active TB. More than 2 million Californians are estimated to have latent TB, and their progression to active TB disease is preventable.

People who are more at risk for TB include:

• Close contacts of a person with infectious TB disease
• Persons who have immigrated from areas of the world with high rates of TB
• Children less than 5 years of age who have a positive TB test
• Groups with high rates of TB transmission, such as homeless persons, injection drug users, and

  people with HIV infection

• Those who work or reside with people who are at high risk for TB in facilities or institutions, such as hospitals, homeless shelters, correctional facilities, nursing homes, and residential homes for those with HIV
• Persons with medical conditions that weaken the immune system

PHS encourage residents to learn about TB and get care:

• Evaluate your risk for TB: Am I at Risk?
• Ask your healthcare provider for testing if you feel you are at increased risk or have been exposed to someone with TB or have symptoms of TB
• If you are diagnosed with TB:
  • Follow the recommendations of your healthcare provider and local public health department to isolate yourself from others while you are still infectious.
  • Don’t forget to keep following up with your healthcare provider and public health case

    managers to keep track of TB symptoms and response to medicine.

  • Whether you are being treated for acute or latent TB infection, complete all your medication as prescribed. Incomplete treatment can lead to TB bacterial resistance, return of symptoms, or even hospitalization and death.

World TB Day gives us an opportunity to thank health care providers, community partners, and our own public health staff, who are at the forefront of the fight to end TB. Let us dedicate ourselves to this year’s World TB Day theme: “Yes! We can end TB”!

Resources:

CDPH TB Community Resources https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/TB_Community_Resources.aspx

Tuberculosis Risk Factors https://www.cdc.gov/tb/risk-factors/index.html