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Kansas health officials are battling the largest tuberculosis (TB) outbreak in recent U.S. history, with 67 confirmed cases since the beginning of the year. This alarming surge includes 60 active cases in Wyandotte County and seven in Johnson County, marking the highest number of cases since the 1950s, when the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) first began monitoring TB in the country.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is actively responding to the outbreak, with health officials testing and treating affected individuals. While KDHE assures the public that there is a very low risk of infection to the general population, the department is working diligently to ensure proper treatment to limit the spread of the disease.
KDHE spokesperson Jill Bronaugh emphasized in an email to the University of Minnesota’s CIDRAP News, “While there is a very low risk of infection to the general public in these communities, KDHE is working to ensure that patients are receiving appropriate treatment, which will limit the ability to spread this disease and prevent additional cases from occurring. This outbreak is still ongoing, which means that there could be more cases.”
TB, caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, primarily affects the lungs but can also impact the brain, kidneys, or spine. It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or speaks. People in close contact with someone who has active TB are most at risk. The disease can manifest in two forms:
- Latent TB Infection: The bacteria remain inactive, causing no symptoms, and cannot be transmitted to others. However, if left untreated, latent TB can progress to active TB.
- Active TB Disease: Contagious and characterized by symptoms such as persistent coughing, chest pain, fatigue, weight loss, and night sweats.
Kansas health officials are performing regular screenings to distinguish between latent and active TB. Treatment for latent TB generally involves medications like isoniazid or rifampin for up to nine months, while active TB requires a longer treatment course with a combination of drugs, including ethambutol, rifampin, and pyrazinamide.
While a vaccine for TB, known as Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG), exists, it is not commonly used in the U.S. The CDC recommends increased vigilance in groups at higher risk, such as individuals born in or traveling to countries where TB is more common, people living in high-risk environments like homeless shelters or prisons, and those with weakened immune systems.
In response to the outbreak, local health departments in Kansas are offering free TB testing to all residents, regardless of their insurance status.
Disclaimer: This article is based on information available as of January 2025. For updated details, please refer to local health authorities or the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
