A recent wave of tuberculosis cases in the Kansas City, Kansas, metro area has left dozens of people ill and at least two dead, according to state health officials. The outbreak was first reported in January 2024, with over 67 confirmed active TB infections and 79 latent cases detected so far.
TB is a highly infectious disease spread through prolonged contact with an infected person’s respiratory droplets when they cough, speak, or sing. Although rare in the US, people who are born abroad, frequent travel to high-risk countries, live in large group settings, or work in healthcare facilities are at higher risk of exposure.
Health officials stress that TB is curable and treatable with a standard course of antibiotics. The state health department will provide free treatment to those who cannot afford it, while the CDC has sent its staff to assist in contact tracing, testing, and screening efforts.
The outbreak highlights concerns about limited information sharing on the national level, with some critics warning that this could impact how people address the spread of disease. Nationally, TB case counts increased in 2023, but the US still boasts one of the lowest TB rates globally.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/28/health/tuberculosis-outbreak-kansas/index.html