TB Evaluations Tied to Rainier Beach High School as UW Study Examines Telehealth Care Gaps

ByBrian “Weence” Bateman

Seattle, WA – March 9, 2026 – Public Health is evaluating about 130 people for TB linked to Rainier Beach High School as UW research flags telehealth care gaps.

Public Health – Seattle & King County is coordinating tuberculosis evaluations connected to Rainier Beach High School, while new research from UW Medicine is drawing attention to how heavy telehealth use may affect certain preventive care services.

TB Evaluation at Rainier Beach High School

Local health officials reported that a person associated with Rainier Beach High School was diagnosed with active tuberculosis. The individual is receiving treatment and is no longer considered contagious.

As a precaution, Public Health is recommending evaluations for roughly 130 people connected to the school. The agency said those identified for screening will be contacted directly and offered a risk assessment and TB testing.

Health officials emphasized that TB is not easily spread. Transmission typically requires prolonged, repeated exposure in a shared indoor space. The department is working with school administrators to identify anyone who may have had that level of contact.

UW Medicine Study on Telehealth Use

Separately, UW Medicine highlighted new findings published in JAMA Network Open examining how telehealth patterns relate to care quality among Veterans Health Administration primary care patients.

The study tracked more than 700,000 veterans who had at least three primary care visits conducted in person, by video, or by phone. Researchers found that patients with a low or moderate share of virtual visits had care quality comparable to those seen primarily in person.

However, when telehealth accounted for more than half of a patient’s primary care visits, researchers observed lower rates of certain services, including flu vaccination, statin adherence, and depression screening. The authors noted that telehealth can improve access by reducing transportation and scheduling barriers, but suggested health systems may need clear pathways to ensure in-person services are completed when necessary.

Environmental Health Outreach in the Duwamish

Public Health – Seattle & King County also recently spotlighted its outreach work along the Duwamish River. Through its Fun to Catch, Toxic to Eat program, staff work with local fishers to share information about chemical contamination in the waterway.

According to King County guidance, salmon is the only seafood considered safe to eat from the Duwamish River because salmon spend a relatively short time there. Resident species can accumulate higher levels of contaminants over time.

What Residents Should Know

Public Health advises those contacted about the Rainier Beach evaluation to follow testing instructions and timelines provided by the department. For broader concerns about TB, measles, or other communicable diseases, residents can consult Public Health – Seattle & King County’s official updates and exposure guidance.

If you have urgent symptoms, seek medical care. For general questions, talk with a licensed clinician.

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Brian “Weence” Bateman is a health and medical writer who covers public health updates, healthcare policy, and medical developments affecting communities across the United States. He works closely with dentists and healthcare providers and focuses on making complex medical information clear, accurate, and useful for everyday readers.