San Diego County Notifies Potential MDR-TB Exposure at Southwestern Community College, October to December 2025
San Diego County health officials issued a warning on Thursday about potential exposure to a drug-resistant strain of tuberculosis on the Southwestern Community College campus in Chula Vista. The exposure period was between late October and mid-December 2025. Officials are notifying individuals who may have been exposed.
Christina Ankofska / Wikimedia (Attribution)# MDR-TB Exposure Warning Issued for College Campus San Diego County health officials notified individuals of potential exposure to multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) at Southwestern Community College on the Southwestern Community College campus in Chula Vista.
The exposure period on the Southwestern Community College campus in Chula Vista was between late October and mid-December 2025. The tuberculosis case involves multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB).
MDR-TB does not respond to standard antibiotics. MDR-TB is harder and longer to treat than standard tuberculosis. Officials are identifying and notifying individuals who may have been exposed to MDR-TB on the Southwestern Community College campus.
Public Health Response and Statements San Diego Public Health Officer Sayone Thihalolipavan said, "The good news is that TB, including MDR-TB, is treatable and curable with the right medication.
" San Diego Public Health Officer Sayone Thihalolipavan said that early screening is key for MDR-TB. Tuberculosis spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, speaks, or breathes. Crowded indoor settings like classrooms increase the risk of tuberculosis transmission.
Risk Assessment for Exposure Individuals who spent extended time on the Southwestern Community College campus during the exposure window could be affected by MDR-TB.
Brief contact on the Southwestern Community College campus carries a lower risk of MDR-TB exposure. Individuals who test positive for TB but show no symptoms have latent TB, where the bacteria is present but inactive. About 5% to 10% of latent TB cases can turn into active cases if left untreated.
San Diego County has an estimated 175,000 people living with latent TB infections.
Local MDR-TB Case Data There were three MDR-TB cases in San Diego County in 2024.
There were two MDR-TB cases in San Diego County in 2025. New York Post reported the details of the Southwestern Community College exposure based on statements from San Diego County health officials.
Story Timeline
4 events- 2026-04-10
San Diego County health officials issued warning about MDR-TB exposure on Southwestern Community College campus
1 sourceSan Diego County health officials - 2025-10 to 2025-12
Exposure period to MDR-TB on Southwestern Community College campus in Chula Vista
1 sourceSan Diego County health officials - 2025
Two MDR-TB cases reported in San Diego County
1 sourceexperts - 2024
Three MDR-TB cases reported in San Diego County
1 sourceexperts
Potential Impact
- 01
Notification and screening of exposed individuals on campus
- 02
Focus on early screening to prevent latent TB progression
- 03
Potential increase in TB testing in San Diego County due to awareness
- 04
Treatment challenges for any confirmed MDR-TB cases from exposure
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