Kansas City is currently dealing with a major tuberculosis (TB) outbreak, which health officials are calling “unprecedented.” This outbreak is affecting two counties, and officials are worried that the situation might not be under control yet. As of January 24, 2025, there have been 67 confirmed cases in Wyandotte and Johnson counties. Wyandotte County alone has 60 cases, while Johnson County has reported 7.
This is the largest TB outbreak ever recorded in the U.S., and it all started in 2024. Jill Bronaugh, a spokesperson for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), explained why this outbreak is so significant. “This is mainly due to the rapid number of cases in the short amount of time,” she said.
Health officials in Kansas said they have been dealing with an "unprecedented" tuberculosis (TB) outbreak in the northeastern part of the state.https://t.co/nolVOBqLLE
— ABC 13 News – WSET (@ABC13News) January 27, 2025
Even though this outbreak has hit Wyandotte County the hardest, health officials are reassuring the public that the general risk remains very low, including for people living in nearby counties. However, they’re still urging everyone to be cautious and vigilant to prevent the spread of the disease.
“This outbreak is still ongoing, which means that there could be more cases,” Bronaugh warned. “There are a few other states that currently have large outbreaks that are also ongoing.”
To tackle this outbreak, the KDHE, local health departments, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are all working together. They’re focusing on tracking the cases, treating people who are infected, and taking steps to stop the disease from spreading further.
While Kansas City is grappling with this outbreak, things are improving across the state overall. In 2024, the KDHE reported 109 active TB cases and 626 latent cases. By early 2025, those numbers had dropped to just one active case and seven latent infections. Even with this progress, the Wyandotte and Johnson County outbreak still remains a major concern.
Historical Tuberculosis Surge in Kansas: 'Largest Outbreak They've Ever Had' https://t.co/m0es2gG5Cx
— People (@people) January 27, 2025
Ashley Goss, the KDHE Deputy Secretary, explained that the outbreak began last summer with 65 active cases and a similar number of latent cases. Active cases have now dropped to about 32, showing that efforts to contain it are starting to work.
‘Unprecedented’ TB outbreak recorded in Kansas with nearly 70 cases recorded https://t.co/5rj4vLDMeh
— The Independent (@Independent) January 27, 2025
In a recent discussion with the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, Goss called the outbreak “unprecedented.” “Some of you are aware, we have and still have mobilized staff and resources addressing an unprecedented tuberculosis outbreak in one of our counties,” she told lawmakers.
A Kansas Department of Health and Environment official told a Kansas Senate committee Tuesday the agency continues to work to resolve an "unprecedented" tuberculosis outbreak in Wyandotte County:
— KSHB 41 News (@KSHB41) January 25, 2025
https://t.co/8OZ61MpHJH
She added that the CDC continues to assist on the ground, offering additional resources to help end the outbreak. “This is normal when there’s something unprecedented or a large outbreak,” Goss explained. “They will come and lend resources to us to help get a stop to that. We are trending in the right direction right now.”
According to Goss, people with active TB are generally no longer contagious after taking medication for 10 days and passing three negative sputum tests. “They can go about their lives, they don’t have to stay away from people, and they can go back to work, do the things, as long as they continue to take their meds,” she said.
Kansas faces largest tuberculosis outbreak in U.S. history: https://t.co/gc9eLghtX5 By @lilyobrienkake
— KAKE News (@KAKEnews) January 28, 2025
Treating both active and latent TB takes several months. The KDHE is also working with several large employers who have been affected by the outbreak. TB is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and while it primarily affects the lungs, it can also spread to other parts of the body like the brain, kidneys, or spine.
There are two types of TB: latent and active. Latent TB occurs when the bacteria are dormant, meaning the person doesn’t feel sick and can’t spread the disease. However, if left untreated, latent TB can turn into active TB, which is contagious and can be very serious.
People with active TB may experience symptoms like a persistent cough that lasts three weeks or more, chest pain, coughing up blood or mucus, extreme fatigue, weight loss, fever, chills, and night sweats. The disease spreads through the air when a person with active TB coughs, speaks, or sings.
The bacteria can stay in the air for hours, especially in poorly ventilated areas, putting anyone nearby at risk of getting infected.
The key to preventing TB is treating latent TB to stop it from becoming active. For active TB, patients must take antibiotics for several months to get rid of the infection and prevent it from spreading. Early detection, proper treatment, and public awareness are essential for controlling TB and preventing large outbreaks like the one in Kansas City.
While officials continue to monitor and manage the situation, the rapid spread of TB in this area highlights just how important it is to detect the disease early, treat it properly, and spread awareness to keep the outbreak from growing even more.
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