A tuberculosis outbreak is currently underway in Wyandotte County, Kansas, with 67 active infections and 79 latent cases reported as of January 24. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment are working to contain the spread.
While there is a TB vaccine available in the US, it’s not widely recommended or required in Kansas. According to the CDC, the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is not generally recommended due to its low effectiveness and potential interference with tuberculin skin test reactivity.
Immunocompromised individuals, healthcare workers, and those who have been infected should get tested for tuberculosis. Those who test positive will receive free testing to determine if their infection is active or latent.
Symptoms of active TB include coughing, chest pains, fever, fatigue, and coughing up blood or phlegm. To prevent transmission, individuals must take 10 consecutive days of medication and undergo sputum tests. After treatment, patients are no longer contagious as long as they continue taking their medication.
The public is advised to call the Kansas Department of Health and Environment hotline at 877-427-7317 if they suspect they may have been infected with TB.
Source: https://www.kansascity.com/news/business/health-care/article299301794.html