A massive outbreak of tuberculosis (TB) has taken hold in the Kansas City area, with dozens of active cases reported. As of January 24, 67 active cases have been confirmed in Wyandotte and Johnson counties.
The outbreak began last year, but health officials are still unsure what caused it. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is monitoring 384 people for TB exposure and providing testing and treatment assistance to those who need it.
TB is a highly infectious disease that can be fatal if left untreated. It’s usually spread through the air and affects the lungs, but can also impact other parts of the body. People can become infected with latent TB, which can lie dormant for years before becoming active again.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been 79 reported cases of latent TB in the Kansas City area since 2024. The CDC has deployed four staff members to assist with contact tracing, testing, and screening, as well as working with community leaders on health education.
The largest US TB outbreak occurred from 2015-2017 at a homeless shelter in Georgia, resulting in over 170 active cases and 400 latent cases. This latest outbreak highlights the ongoing challenges of eradicating TB worldwide.
Source: https://globalnews.ca/news/10988782/tuberculosis-outbreak-hits-kansas-city-area