The Kansas City Area is facing a yearlong TB Outbreak
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A yearlong tuberculosis (TB) outbreak in the Kansas City, Kansas area has raised alarms among local health experts, although it may not be the largest outbreak in U.S. history, despite claims from state officials last week.
“We typically expect just a handful of cases each year,” said Dr. Dana Hawkinson, an infectious disease expert at the University of Kansas Health System. However, the higher-than-usual case counts in this outbreak serve as a “stark warning,” he noted.
The outbreak, which began in January 2024, has resulted in two deaths, according to Kansas state health department spokesperson Jill Bronaugh. Despite this, health officials assure the public that there is no immediate threat to the broader community.
What is Tuberculosis (TB)?
TB is an infectious disease caused by bacteria that primarily affects the lungs. The bacteria spread through the air when an infected person coughs, talks, or sings. It is highly contagious, but only spreads when the infected person is symptomatic.
There are two forms of TB: active and latent. Active TB presents with symptoms like a persistent cough, sometimes blood-tinged sputum, night sweats, fever, weight loss, and swollen lymph nodes. Latent TB, on the other hand, is when the bacteria remain dormant in the body without causing symptoms and is not contagious.
Approximately a quarter of the global population is estimated to have latent TB, though only about 5% to 10% of those infected will develop active symptoms.
The Scale of the Kansas Outbreak
As of January 24, health officials reported that 67 people are being treated for active TB, with most cases concentrated in Wyandotte County. Additionally, 79 people are being monitored for latent TB.
Kansas’ provisional count for 2024 shows 79 active cases and 213 latent cases in Wyandotte and Johnson counties, the epicenter of the outbreak. However, not all of these cases are linked to the current outbreak, and Bronaugh did not respond to inquiries for further clarification.
Despite the ongoing situation, health authorities are optimistic. “We are trending in the right direction right now,” said Ashley Goss, Deputy Secretary at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, in testimony to the state Senate’s Committee on Public Health and Welfare on January 21.
Is This the Largest TB Outbreak in U.S. History?
State officials referred to the outbreak as “the largest documented outbreak in U.S. history” since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began tracking cases in the 1950s. However, a CDC spokesperson disagreed with this assessment, pointing out at least two more significant outbreaks in recent years.
One notable outbreak occurred between 2015 and 2017, when TB spread through homeless shelters in Georgia, resulting in over 170 active cases and more than 400 latent cases. Another major outbreak in 2021 was linked to contaminated tissue used in bone transplants, which affected 113 patients.
How Is Tuberculosis Treated?
TB is treatable with a combination of antibiotics, typically over the course of several months. While a vaccine exists, it is not generally recommended in the U.S. because the risk of infection is low, and the vaccine can interfere with the diagnostic test used to detect TB.
TB: A Global Health Concern
While TB remains a serious concern worldwide, it is less of a threat in the U.S. compared to other parts of the world. However, TB cases have been on the rise globally. In 2023, the disease killed 1.25 million people and infected 8 million, marking the highest recorded figures since the World Health Organization began tracking cases.
In the U.S., TB was once a major health problem, but the number of cases had decreased for many years. However, in 2023, the country recorded over 9,600 TB cases, the highest number in a decade, according to the CDC.
Despite the rise in cases, health officials emphasize that TB remains much more prevalent and deadly in other countries, particularly in regions with limited healthcare resources.
