A significant tuberculosis outbreak has emerged in the Kansas City area of Kansas, catching the attention of local health experts. Although state health officials described this as potentially the largest outbreak in U.S. history, experts like Dr. Dana Hawkinson, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Kansas Health System, noted that typically only a few cases are reported annually. He highlighted the current high case numbers as a “stark warning” about the disease’s resurgence.
So far, this outbreak, which began in January 2024, has resulted in the deaths of two individuals, according to Jill Bronaugh, a spokeswoman for the Kansas state health department. However, health officials maintain that there is no risk to the general public at this time.
Understanding tuberculosis (TB) is crucial in this context. TB is caused by bacteria that primarily infect the lungs and can spread through airborne particles when an infected person coughs, talks, or sings. While TB is highly contagious, it only transmits when a person exhibits symptoms.
TB infection can manifest in two forms: “active” TB and “latent” TB. Individuals with active TB typically experience severe symptoms such as a prolonged cough, potential blood in sputum, night sweats, fever, weight loss, and swollen lymph nodes. In contrast, latent TB remains dormant in the body, causing no symptoms and not spreading to others. It is estimated that around a quarter of the global population has latent TB, but only a small percentage—5% to 10%—will develop symptoms.
As of January 24, 2024, there are 67 confirmed active TB cases being treated, predominantly in Wyandotte County, according to Bronaugh. Additionally, another 79 individuals are reported to have latent TB. The provisional count for 2024 indicates 79 active cases and 213 latent cases in Wyandotte and Johnson counties, although not all cases are linked to the current outbreak, and further clarification from the health department was not provided.
On a positive note, Kansas health officials describe a trend towards improvement. Ashley Goss, the deputy secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, indicated on January 21 to the state Senate’s Committee on Public Health and Welfare that the situation is heading in a positive direction.
Despite claims of it being the largest TB outbreak in U.S. history, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) clarified that there have been at least two larger outbreaks documented in recent years. One notable example occurred between 2015 and 2017, when over 170 active TB cases were identified among individuals in homeless shelters across Georgia, along with more than 400 latent cases. Another significant outbreak in 2021 involved contaminated tissue used in bone transplants, which sickened 113 patients across the country.
Tuberculosis is typically treated with a course of antibiotics over several months. Although a vaccine exists, it is not generally recommended in the U.S. due to the low risk of infection and its potential interference with diagnostic testing for the disease.
Globally, TB remains a leading cause of infectious disease-related deaths and has seen a concerning rise in cases. In 2023, it claimed the lives of approximately 1.25 million individuals and infected around 8 million, marking the highest annual figures since the World Health Organization began tracking this data. Despite a reduction in cases over the decades, the U.S. has witnessed a resurgence, with over 9,600 cases reported in 2023, the highest count in a decade, according to the CDC.
