A tuberculosis (TB) outbreak has been reported in northeastern Kansas, with 67 cases since 2024. officials noted 60 active and 7 latent cases in Wyandotte County, while Johnson County saw 7 active and 2 latent cases, including one near the Missouri border. This marks the largest TB outbreak in U.S. history, according to local health sources.
Health officials emphasized the low risk to the public, with efforts underway to test patients regardless of insurance. The CDC explained TB as an infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and outlined its transmission through respiratory droplets. Active TB symptoms include a cough lasting weeks or longer, chest pain, weight loss, fatigue, and night sweats. Latent TB shows no symptoms but can lead to active disease if not treated.
Risk factors include exposure to regions with high TB rates, crowded living conditions, weakened immune systems due to diabetes or HIV, and close contact with infectious individuals. Treatment options vary, including BCG vaccine for some at-risk groups and medications like Rifapentine and Isoniazid for others. Early detection remains key in controlling the spread of this disease.
Source: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/01/27/tb-outbreak-kansas-2025/77970634007