TB Outbreak: Kansas Deals with Biggest US Record

Kansas is dealing with the largest tuberculosis (TB) outbreak in U. S. history, with 67 cases of active TB and 79 cases of latent TB confirmed so far. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) reported that the outbreak began in January 2024, with most cases concentrated in Wyandotte and Johnson counties. TB is a serious disease caused by bacteria that spreads through the air when infected people cough, speak, or sing. Symptoms include a long-lasting cough, chest pain, and fever. While the risk to the general public is low, health officials are following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). TB cases in the U. S. have been declining but saw a rise in recent years. Treatment can last from four to nine months, and a vaccine is sometimes given in high-risk countries but not typically in the U. S.