Kansas battles its worst tuberculosis infection outbreak. January 27, 2025 – Kansas has reported its largest tuberculosis (TB) outbreak, with reports of 67 active cases.
From the data provided by the Kansas Department of Health, Wyandotte County quantifies the most cases, 60, while Johnson County confirms 7. Most of the cases lack proper medical care.
Understanding Tuberculosis TB is a contagious disease that predominantly affects the lungs and is propagated by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
When an infected person coughs, sings or talks, they expel airborne particles which contain the disease. Some exhibiting symptoms are:
• Persistent cough that lasts more than three weeks
• Pain in the chest
• Blood in coughed up material
• Excessive tiredness
• Sexual impotence
• Fever and sweating during sleep
While TB can be fatal if untreated it can be cured with a prolonged course of antibiotics, typically lasting up to nine months.
Current Situation in Kansas Jill Bronaugh, the spokesperson for the Johnson County community primary care network, assures that they are taking the situation seriously.
Due to recent reports, Bronaugh mentions that schools have been informed about the outbreak.
Kansas documented 109 active TB cases in 2024 which marked a substantial increase from the previous year's 51 cases and as of January 24, 2025 there has been one active TB case reported for this year.
Public Health Response
The KDHE and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are working together to manage the outbreak. Local employers and communities are partnering to detect and manage both active TB cases and latent TB carriers. People with latent TB have the bacteria in their bodies but show no symptoms and cannot spread the disease unless they get treatment.
KDHE Deputy Secretary Ashley Goss assured the public about the minimal risk to people in the general population and nearby counties while mentioning that circumstances are becoming better as trends show positive movement.
Preventive Measures
Public health officials recommend the following measures to prevent the spread of TB:
To stop TB transmission public health authorities suggest these actions: close contacts of diagnosed TB patients require testing;
TB patients must finish all their antibiotic treatments to avoid drug resistance; community education about TB transmission and early detection plays a key role in outbreak control.
