Tuberculosis Outbreak Hits Poor in Los Angeles

About 4,650 people exposed

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is dispatching scientists to Los Angeles to mount a new attack on an outbreak of tuberculosis on skid row.

Health workers have identified about 4,650 people who were probably exposed and are trying to track them down for testing and treatment. Local and federal officials are particularly concerned because the cases are linked to one relatively small geographic area and one vulnerable population. But officials are concerned that the outbreak could spread beyond skid row if action isn't taken.

Officials say 11 have died since 2007. Sixty of the 78 cases were among homeless people who live on and around skid row.

"This is the largest outbreak in a decade," said Jonathan Fielding, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. "We are really putting all of our resources into this."