SPOKANE, Wash. – The Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) recently reported a rise in tuberculosis (TB) cases.
SRHD said they saw five cases in 2020. In 2024, that figure more than doubled to 12 cases. The health district said they already have 11 active cases in 2025 and 20 others on observation.
The health district said at a recent meeting of the Spokane County Commissioners that an additional tuberculosis nurse may need to be hired in 2026 to keep up with demand.
SRHD elaborated that a nurse must be present to administer medication for isolated TB patients and observe that it’s been taken, a task that can’t be performed by other staff.
Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that primarily affects the lungs, although it can spread to other organs.
According to the World Health Organization, more than a million people died of tuberculosis in 2023.
