New California Tuberculosis Screening Law AB 2132 Means Testing and Care is Available

As local landmarks prepare to light up in red on Monday, March 24 to commemorate World Tuberculosis Day, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reminds residents that tuberculosis (TB) is a deadly disease that can be prevented and treated.

Many individuals do not know they are infected because TB can be dormant—or latent—for many years. For many people with latent tuberculosis infection the TB germs are dormant in their body; the germs have not yet made them sick, and these people are not yet contagious. If the TB germs become active and multiply, the infection can spread to others and cause serious illness or death. Latent TB infection can be treated with well-tolerated medications to prevent progression to life-threatening active tuberculosis disease that can spread to others.

With more than half a million Los Angeles County residents estimated to have untreated and latent TB infection, actions that make it easier to access testing and treatment are welcomed.

Beginning in January of this year, a new law, AB 2132 mandates that adult patients receiving primary care services be offered a TB test if risk factors are identified, along with appropriate follow-up care or referrals.

In 2024, active TB cases in Los Angeles County remained stable after three years of increases. The county reported 542 new cases, a slight rise from 539 in 2023. Similarly, California recorded 2,100 new TB cases last year, compared to 2,110 in 2023. In 2024, 76 people in Los Angeles County diagnosed with active TB disease died before they could complete treatment.

Clinical care for TB infection is available in community healthcare systems and clinics. For individuals without access to healthcare services, TB testing and follow up care is available at nine Public Health centers throughout the County.

Individuals at higher risk of TB infection include those born in or having lived in countries with high TB rates, those with medical conditions that weaken their immune systems, and individuals who have experienced homelessness or incarceration. Furthermore, those who have had known exposure to TB are also at increased risk and are notified by Public Health about the exposure. People with TB infection can opt for preventive treatment to halt progression to TB disease.

“The new California TB screening law AB 2132 has the potential to accelerate progress toward TB elimination in Los Angeles County, saving lives and limiting the devastating impact of this terrible disease,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.Ed., Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. “Public Health remains vigilant about detecting and responding to TB outbreaks across many communities, finding and limiting the development and spread of drug-resistant TB strains, and assuring that residents have access to the TB care that they need.”

In Los Angeles County, landmarks will be lit up in red on March 24 to commemorate World TB Day. The landmarks include:

• Los Angeles City Hall
• Union Station in downtown Los Angeles