TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- People in Tulare County are getting sick with tuberculosis.

Health leaders confirmed at least 15 cases of the disease so far.

"TB is a bacterium," said Dr. Thomas Overton, the Deputy Public Health Officer with Tulare County Public Health. "It is spread through the air. Primarily, individuals' lungs are infected with TB in most cases."

The bacteria can spread when an infected person either coughs, speaks or even sings. TB can even live in the body for a period of time without making you feel sick.

"Tuberculosis is a very slow-growing bacteria," Dr. Overton. "Sometimes, we have individuals who have had symptoms for like a month or longer."

The California Department of Public Health reported last year, around 2,100 people were reported to have TB. State h

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