Marin County has reported a 44% increase in active tuberculosis cases, from 13 cases in 2023 to 14 confirmed in 2024. Dr. Lisa Santora, the public health officer, emphasizes that tuberculosis is often forgotten, leading to misconceptions about its prevalence. Symptoms can resemble those of a cold or pneumonia, complicating diagnosis. The public health office aims to treat patients and reduce risks, noting that many individuals carry latent infections that are not contagious. Education and awareness are crucial to managing and preventing further outbreaks.
"It's one of those diseases that people forget about," Santora said. "They think it's an old disease that doesn't exist, and when we saw the data we thought it was a good time to issue an advisory."
"If someone comes in and they're coughing up blood like they got a cavitary lesion, that's when you're going to think TB," he said. "A lot of times, it doesn't present like that. It presents like a cold or regular pneumonia and so therefore it might not get diagnosed correctly the first time."
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