Kansas is experiencing one of the largest tuberculosis (TB) outbreaks in decades, affecting at least 74 people in Wyandotte and Johnson Counties. Health officials are working to contain the spread, with an uncertain origin but no immediate attribution identified. The CDC has confirmed four personnel on site in Kansas to assist with contact tracing, testing, and education efforts.
The outbreak, which began last January, is currently ongoing, raising concerns about potential additional cases. While the risk to the general public remains low, state health officials are urging residents in these counties to monitor symptoms and report TB-like illnesses.
This latest TB surge follows a recent spike in the disease globally, with an estimated 1.25 million lives lost worldwide in 2023. Without treatment, TB can be fatal, often progressing through coughing, fever, and weight loss. In Kansas, 67 individuals are actively treated for TB, while 79 cases are latent (undiagnosed but harboring the bacteria).
While the outbreak has garnered attention, it is not the largest in recent U.S. history. Missouri, a neighboring state, reported 87 TB cases as of Tuesday. Additionally, a homeless shelter outbreak in Georgia between 2015 and 2017 claimed over 170 lives.
This latest Kansas TB cluster underscores the ongoing challenge of controlling the disease, with prevention and early detection remaining critical priorities.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/28/us/tuberculosis-outbreak-kansas.html