San Diego County health officials are again zeroing in on Southwest High School, this time warning students and staff in the Nestor neighborhood about a possible tuberculosis exposure that occurred between Sept. 23 and Oct. 23, 2025. The county’s Tuberculosis Program, working with the Sweetwater Union High School District, has begun reaching out to people who may have had prolonged indoor contact with someone with TB. Targeted screenings and clinical follow-up are being lined up for those identified as at the highest risk, according to county health officials.
County Notice And Who Is Being Contacted
According to San Diego County on X, the Tuberculosis Program is notifying Southwest High students and staff who were potentially exposed during the Sept. 23 to Oct. 23, 2025 time frame. Officials say they are prioritizing people with frequent or prolonged indoor exposure and have begun outreach to arrange testing and clinical follow-up for those who receive positive results. The county notes that individuals identified as at increased risk will be offered screening and, when appropriate, chest X-rays and preventive treatment.
The County’s Tuberculosis Program, in collaboration with Sweetwater Union School District (SUHSD), is notifying students and staff who were potentially exposed to tuberculosis (TB) at Southwest High School from Sept. 23, 2025, to Oct. 23, 2025. https://t.co/G6v9kv0JJB
— SanDiegoCounty (@SanDiegoCounty) March 10, 2026
Repeat TB Investigation At Southwest High
This investigation is not the first TB probe on the Southwest High campus in 2025. Earlier reporting said the county and district alerted people about a separate possible exposure that occurred between Feb. 1 and May 22, 2025 and offered no-cost screening to those at increased risk, as the Times of San Diego reported. School and health officials say repeat investigations are part of routine contact tracing when tuberculosis cases are identified.
Testing, Screening And Follow-Up Care
The San Diego County Tuberculosis Control Program says it will provide no-cost TB screening for people identified as at increased risk and can coordinate chest X-rays and preventive treatment for those who test positive for latent infection. Anyone who has symptoms or a positive TB test is urged to consult a medical provider or contact the county TB team for evaluation and treatment. Program details and contact information are available from the San Diego County Tuberculosis Control Program.
How TB Spreads And What To Watch For
Tuberculosis spreads through the air when someone with active pulmonary TB coughs, speaks or breathes in close proximity to others. Brief, casual encounters are less likely to cause infection than extended indoor exposure. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that many people who are infected develop latent TB, which is not contagious but can progress to active disease without treatment. Symptoms of active TB include a persistent cough, fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss, and anyone experiencing these signs is advised to seek medical care promptly.
Where To Get More Information
Parents, students and staff who believe they may have been exposed are encouraged to contact the Sweetwater Union High School District and the county Tuberculosis Control Program. Local reporting on other recent school cases is available from 10News. For direct public-health assistance, call the Tuberculosis Control Program at 619-692-5565 or visit the county TB program website for guidance on testing and treatment. The district and county say they will notify affected families directly and provide screening to those at highest risk.
