Los Angeles County
Department of Public Health
Tuberculosis Control Program
2615 S. Grand Avenue, Room 507
Los Angeles, CA 90007
Phone: (213) 744-6160
Fax: (213) 749-0926
Email: tb@ph.lacounty.gov

Los Angeles County Department of Health Services
Tuberculosis Control Program
2001 Epidemiology Fact Sheet
Homeless Tuberculosis Cases

1. In the United States, in the year 2000, of the 15,926 TB cases with information on homeless status, 6.1% (971 cases) were homeless. ¹
2. In California, in the year 2000, of the 3,260 TB cases with information on homeless status, 6.9% (225 cases) were homeless. ¹
3. In 2001, there were 1,046 TB cases reported in Los Angeles County. Of the total 1,046 TB cases, 7.6% (80 cases) were homeless. This represents a 5.3% increase in the number of homeless cases from the year 2000 (76 cases). ²
4. The majority (88.8%) of the homeless TB cases were male (71 cases).
5. The highest number of homeless TB cases were reported in the 45-54 year old age group (27 cases, 33.8%), followed by the 35-44 year old age group (22 cases, 27.5%), the 15-34 year old age group (18 cases, 22.5%), and the 55-64 year old age group (12 cases, 15.0%).
6. The racial breakdown of homeless TB cases was 53.8% (43 cases) Hispanic, 28.8% Black (23 cases), 11.3% White (9 cases), and 6.3% Asian (5 cases).
7. In 2001, 53.8% (43 cases) of the homeless TB cases were US-born. Thirty-seven cases (46.2%) were foreign-born. Of the 37 foreign-born homeless TB cases, 20 cases were born in Mexico, 6 in Guatemala, 3 in El Salvador, and 3 in Philippines.
8. Of the 80 homeless TB cases, 86.3% (69 cases) were tested for HIV; 24.6% (17 cases) were identified with HIV co-infection.
9. Most of the homeless cases (38 cases, 47.5%) were located in the Central Health District, a region characterized by high population density, severe poverty and large numbers of persons with other risk factors for TB such as HIV infection, injection/non-injection drug use, and severe alcohol abuse. The Southwest Health District had the second highest number of homeless TB cases (7 cases, 8.8%), followed closely by Hollywood (6 cases, 7.5%).
10. Seventy-six homeless TB cases (95.0%) were diagnosed as pulmonary TB, and 4 cases (5.0%) as extrapulmonary TB only.

¹ CDC. Reported Tuberculosis in The United States, 2000

² Epidemiology Services, TB Control Program, Department of Health and Services, Los Angeles County. Tuberculosis Epidemiology Assessment (TEAM) Report 2001; Volume 2002.