The County of San Diego said county health officials are working with the Sweetwater Union High School District to notify students and staff about a tuberculosis exposure at Southwest High School between June 23, 2025 and March 6, 2026.

County officials have contacted people at highest risk and will provide free TB blood testing at the school during the first week of November; a mobile vehicle will be on campus to take chest x-rays. Former students are being notified and may receive free testing at Southwest High School on Dec. 4, 2026 from 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the South Lot student parking area.

This is the fourth person associated with Southwest High School diagnosed with active TB within the past two years; investigators are exploring connections between this case and earlier cases, and genetic testing for the newest case is pending.

Two samples from earlier cases were genetically sequenced and found to be different strains; previous testing did not show a genetic link between those cases.

"Bringing testing to the school is crucial to identify any latent TB infections and stop potential spread given the high number of cases in such a short timespan," said Sayone Thihalolipavan, M.D., MPH, County Public Health Officer.

TB spreads through the air when a person with active TB coughs, speaks, sings or breathes; people with frequent or prolonged indoor exposure to someone with active TB should be tested, while short, casual interactions are less likely to result in infection.

People who test positive but don’t have symptoms should get a chest x-ray and talk to a medical provider; latent TB is dormant and not contagious, but preventive medications can reduce the risk of future active disease.

The county reported annual active TB cases of 193 in 2020, 201 in 2021, 208 in 2022, 242 in 2023, 247 in 2024 and 265 in 2025; an estimated 175,000 people in San Diego County have latent TB infection and are at risk for developing active TB without preventive treatment if not treated now for latent infection. For more information about this potential exposure, call the County TB Control Program at 619-692-8621.

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County of San Diego

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