Kansas City Sees One of Largest Tuberculosis Outbreaks in U.S. History

Tuberculosis Tuberculosis
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An outbreak of tuberculosis (TB) in the Kansas City area has become one of the largest in the United States, with 67 active cases reported in Wyandotte and Johnson counties, Kansas, as of January 24. The outbreak, which began in 2024, has led the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to monitor 384 people for potential TB exposure, providing testing and treatment. Health officials have not identified the source of the outbreak but assured the public that the general risk remains low.

TB, an airborne disease caused by bacteria, primarily affects the lungs but can impact other organs, including the brain. If left untreated, it can be fatal. People can carry latent TB, which can remain dormant for years before becoming active. Since the outbreak, 79 latent infections have been reported in the area.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has deployed four staff members to assist with contact tracing, testing, and health education in the community. TB is more commonly found in individuals living in large group settings or those traveling to countries where the disease is prevalent. The largest TB outbreak in the U.S. occurred between 2015 and 2017 at a homeless shelter in Georgia, resulting in over 170 active cases.

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