Rising Cases and Ongoing Outbreak

Health officials in Kansas are grappling with a significant tuberculosis outbreak that has affected multiple communities. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) reports that all confirmed cases have emerged in Wyandotte and Johnson counties, both of which are part of the greater Kansas City metropolitan area. So far, 67 individuals have been diagnosed with active TB, while 79 others have tested positive for latent TB.

Latent TB occurs when the bacteria responsible for the infection, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, remains in the body without causing symptoms or spreading to others. However, in about 5% to 10% of cases, latent TB can progress to an active form, particularly in individuals with weakened immune systems, malnutrition, or a history of tobacco use.

Jill Bronaugh, KDHE’s communications director, emphasized the ongoing nature of the outbreak, cautioning that additional cases may arise. The first cases were recorded in January 2024, and since then, the outbreak has led to two confirmed deaths. KDHE officials say this is the largest TB outbreak recorded in the United States over a one-year span since national TB case reporting began in the 1950s.

National Context and Previous Tuberculosis Outbreak

While TB cases and related fatalities in the U.S. remain low compared to countries where the disease is more prevalent, health officials have noted an uptick in infections in recent years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported over 9,600 active TB cases nationwide in 2023—an increase of 15% from the previous year, marking the highest count since 2013.

Bronaugh explained that a TB outbreak is typically characterized by an unexpected surge in cases within a specific region, accompanied by evidence of recent bacterial transmission, usually within the past two years.

Kansas has faced TB outbreaks before, including a 2021 incident involving multidrug-resistant TB, which affected over a dozen individuals. These cases present additional challenges as they do not respond to the most commonly used antibiotics. When questioned about potential drug resistance in the current outbreak, KDHE had yet to confirm whether any of the recent infections exhibited such resistance.

Efforts to Contain the Outbreak

Health officials are working closely with affected individuals to trace and identify anyone who may have been exposed to TB. Those who test positive undergo further evaluation to determine whether they have active or latent TB, which dictates their course of treatment. Although a vaccine exists, it is rarely administered in the U.S. due to the historically low risk of infection.

Tuberculosis Outbreak spreads through airborne particles expelled when an infected person talks, sings, or coughs. If untreated, the bacteria can travel beyond the lungs, affecting other organs such as the kidneys, brain, or spinal cord. Symptoms of active TB in the lungs include a persistent cough, chest pain, fever, weight loss, and fatigue.

KDHE is currently managing 384 individuals connected to the outbreak and continues to update case numbers weekly. While the general public faces minimal risk, officials are committed to containing the disease and ensuring that infected individuals receive the necessary treatment, which will be provided free of charge to uninsured or underinsured patients. The CDC and KDHE remain focused on mitigating the outbreak and safeguarding public health.