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Kansas is currently experiencing the largest tuberculosis (TB) outbreak in U.S. history, with 67 active cases reported since 2024. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) confirmed that the outbreak is primarily concentrated in Wyandotte and Johnson counties, part of the Kansas City area. Additionally, there are 79 latent TB infections in these counties.
Jill Bronaugh, KDHE's communications director, described the outbreak as unprecedented since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began tracking TB cases in the 1950s. She emphasized that the outbreak is ongoing, and more cases could emerge. Despite the scale of the outbreak, state officials assure that the risk to the general public remains low.
TB is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis and primarily affects the lungs. It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or speaks. There are two forms of TB: active and latent. Active TB is contagious and presents symptoms like a persistent cough, chest pain, and weight loss. Latent TB, on the other hand, is not contagious and shows no symptoms, but it can develop into active TB if untreated.
Kansas health officials are actively testing and treating those affected. Treatment for active TB involves a combination of antibiotics over several months, while latent TB is treated with medications like isoniazid or rifampin. The KDHE is conducting free TB testing for individuals in the affected areas, regardless of insurance coverage.
The CDC estimates that up to 13 million people in the U.S. live with latent TB. In 2023, there were 9,633 reported cases of active TB nationwide, marking the highest count since 2013. Certain groups, such as those living in crowded settings or with weakened immune systems, are at higher risk for TB.