Kansas Grapples with Largest Tuberculosis Outbreak in U.S. History
Kansas Largest Tuberculosis Outbreak in U.S. History
Kansas is presently battling the largest tuberculosis outbreak marked by health officials since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention started keeping records of the disease from the 1950s. Since the outbreak erupted in the Kansas City Metro area, public health experts have voiced serious concerns due to the very fast rise in active TB cases.
Scope of the Outbreak
As of January 24, 2025, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported 67 active TB cases and 79 other latent infections since the outbreak began in 2024. The outbreak has occurred mostly in Wyandotte and Johnson counties, within the vicinity of the Kansas City metro area. Other than these numbers, Kansas recorded 109 cases of active TB and 626 latent TB cases in 2024, far worse statistics compared to 51 cases of active TB and 1,259 latent TB cases recorded in 2023.
Jill Bronaugh, the communications director of KDHE, referred to it as the ‘largest documented TB outbreak in U.S. history’ due to the rapid surge of cases over a short span of time. While the outbreak is huge, health officials maintain that the general public is still at an extremely low risk. Local health agencies are actively working on deciding who might want to have been exposed and must be tested. Free testing is available, even for those individuals with no insurance.
What is Tuberculosis?
TB is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which generally affects the lungs but can also involve the influence on other organs such as the brain, kidneys, and spine. It is spread by tiny airborne droplets released when an infected person clears their throat or coughs, speaks, or sings. The bacteria can linger in the air for several hours, particularly in poorly ventilated spaces.
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Two forms of TB infection exist:
- Latent TB is one in which TB germs are inactive in the body and unable to produce symptoms. Although latent TB cannot be spread to others, it can evolve into the active disease should it remain untreated. Nearly 10% of people with latent TB will eventually show signs of the active disease if not treated.
- Active TB is a form of the disease that presents with symptoms and is communicable. The classical presentation includes a persistent cough for more than three weeks, chest pain, loss of weight, fever, chills, night sweats, and hemoptysis. Naturally, active TB could become lethal if treatment isn’t commenced.
The Bigger Picture
Nationwide, TB cases have been on the rise after the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. reported 9,633 active TB cases in 2023, up by 15% from 2022, the highest annual count since 2013. Prior to the pandemic, TB cases had experienced a steady decline for decades, as indicated by the record low of 7,170 cases in 2020.
The CDC estimates that there may be as many as 13 million people in the United States living with latent TB. These individuals do not spread the germ yet have the capacity to develop active TB because of other risk factors such as compromised immune systems.
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Individuals at Risk
Certain groups have higher risk factors for TB infection, including:
- Anyone who resides or works in congregate settings, such as homeless shelters, prisons, or nursing homes.
- People who travel frequently to or were born in settings with rampant TB infection.
- Those with the power to weaken the immune system due to HIV/AIDS, certain cancers, diabetes, or those on immunosuppressive medications, such as methotrexate.
- Healthcare and correctional facility workers who have routine opportunities for contact with such groups of vulnerable individuals.
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Treatment and Prevention
Cases of TB are treatable by antibiotics, albeit the duration of the treatment can change in proportion to their disease stage of infection or manner:
- Latent TB treatment lasts somewhere between 3 and 9 months, depending on other factors. It may incorporate combinations of Rifapentine, Isoniazid, or Rifampin.
- Active TB: Treatment normally lasts for six to nine months and includes combinations of drugs such as Ethambutol, Isoniazid, Rifampin, and Pyrazinamide.
Some vaccines that could prevent severe TB in children, like Bacille Calmette-Guerín (BCG), are available in a few countries but are not routinely adopted in the U.S. High-risk individuals should be tested regularly via a skin test or blood test.
Public Health Response
Kansas health officials, in partnership with the CDC, are working to contain the outbreak by offering free screening and treatment to the affected individuals. Early intervention is key in preventing potentially latent infections from becoming active diseases.
“This outbreak is a reminder of the tangible gains of public health measures and longstanding surveillance,” said Ashley Goss, deputy secretary of KDHE. “The risk to individuals is minimal, and we encourage those at risk of active TB to seek testing, treatment, and care for themselves.”
While the situation unfolds, health authorities are on their toes to handle the outbreak and reassuring the public that the overall risk is very low. This outbreak illustrates the need to continue educating, raising awareness, and taking public health measures that are meant to quell the advance of infectious diseases, such as TB.
References:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/28/kansas-tuberculosis-outbreak
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/01/27/tb-outbreak-kansas-2025/77970634007
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