A tuberculosis outbreak is linked to a prominent high school, affecting dozens

The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) issued a health alert on January 29 regarding the outbreak, which has been linked to Archbishop Riordan High School.

Tuberculosis is a curable bacterial infection that targets the lungs, but can affect other organs as well, according to Johns Hopkins. It is an airborne infection that can be spread by coughing, sneezing or saliva.

Three active TB cases have been diagnosed among people associated with Archbishop Riordan High School since November 2025, according to the advisory, and more than 50 people Latent tuberculosis infection Identified within the school community.

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A person with a latent infection has been infected with TB bacteria, but the bacteria are not active in the body.

Although latent TB is not contagious, it can develop into… Active disease In 5% to 10% of people.

An outbreak of tuberculosis (TB) has been linked to a high school in San Francisco (not pictured). (Istock)

“Efforts are underway to ensure preventive treatment for all these individuals,” the advisory said.

School staff and students have been directed to stay home if they are sick and to obtain medical clearance from a doctor before returning.

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“In addition, evaluation for tuberculosis is required All students “And school-affiliated employees, regardless of symptoms,” the warning read. “It will be necessary to repeat the TB evaluation every eight weeks until the outbreak is resolved.”

“At this time, the risk to the general population is low, so there is no need for these procedures for patients not associated with an AHRS outbreak.”

“If you breathe in, you can get TB – so all people are at risk.”

In the United States, more than 565 people died from tuberculosis in the last full year of available official data, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

There is a death rate of more than 10% in San Francisco, according to health officials.

Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

While about 25% of people are likely to be infected with TB bacteria, only 5% to 10% will experience symptoms and develop the disease. Only people with symptoms are contagious.

Those who become infected with TB may experience mild symptoms, including cough, chest pain, and fatigue. Weight lossWeakness, fever and night sweats, according to the CDC.

Tuberculosis is a curable bacterial infection that targets the lungs, but can affect other organs as well, according to Johns Hopkins. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

In addition to the lungs, the disease can also affect the kidneys, spine, skin and brain.

“TB can affect any organ in the body, but it causes… Lung disease “In more than 80% of cases,” Masai Kawamura, MD, a former San Francisco TB director and TB doctor, previously told Fox News Digital. “This is dangerous because it causes coughing, which is the airborne spread mechanism.”

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In more severe cases, patients may cough up blood, noted Kawamura, who serves on the board of directors for Vital Strategies, a global public health organization.

“Often, there are minor symptoms for a long time and people mistake it for an occasional cough With allergies“Smoking or colds cannot get rid of them,” she added.

A person with a latent infection has been infected with TB bacteria, but the bacteria are not active in the body. (Janice Carr/CDC/AP)

TB can be identified through rapid diagnostic tests. The disease is Treated with antibiotics Take daily for four to six months, according to the CDC. Some of the most common medications include isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol.

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Failure to take the full course of medications can cause the bacteria to become drug-resistant, which then requires treatment with different medications.

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If left untreated, TB is fatal to about half of its victims, according to Kawamura. “About 25% recover on their own, and another 25% continue as cases of active chronic TB,” she said.

Who is at risk?

“If you breathe, you can Catch tuberculosis “So all people are at risk,” said Kawamura, who describes TB as “a social disease caused by crowding and movement.”

“Because TB is transmitted through the air, congregate settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, jails, prisons, classrooms and homeless shelters are places where TB spreads more easily, especially if there are multiple risks,” she added.

People most at risk of developing tuberculosis after exposure are people who: He has diabetes– Weak immunity, malnutrition, tobacco use and/or drinking excessive amounts of alcohol. (Istock)

People most at risk of developing tuberculosis after exposure are people who: He has diabetes– Weak immunity, malnutrition, tobacco use and/or drinking excessive amounts of alcohol. Infants and children are also at greater risk.

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The best means of prevention is to examine people at risk and treat latent tuberculosis infection, according to the doctor.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Archbishop Riordan High School to request comment.