Kansas Battles Major Tuberculosis Outbreak
Kansas is battling one of its largest tuberculosis outbreaks since the 1950s, state health officials say. Dozens of infections and at least two deaths have been reported in the Kansas City, Kansas, metropolitan area.
The outbreak, which has drawn a federal response, began last January when it led to two deaths across Wyandotte and Johnson Counties. State officials have not released a statement addressing the origin of the outbreak. The state’s health agency, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), stated that the risk to the general public is still very low.
Jill Bronaugh, a spokeswoman for KDHE, wrote in an email on Tuesday that state officials were working with and following the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “This outbreak is still ongoing, which means there could be more cases,” Bronaugh said.
“TB is an infectious disease that most often affects the lungs and is caused by a type of bacteria. It spreads through the air when infected people cough, speak, or sing. While there is a very low risk of infection to the general public in these communities, KDHE is working to ensure that patients are receiving appropriate treatment, which will limit the ability to spread this disease and prevent additional cases from occurring.”
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tuberculosis (TB) is the world’s leading cause of death from a single infectious agent. In 2023, 1.25 million people died due to the disease, while 10.8 million fell ill.
The airborne disease, which can be cured, is transmitted when infected individuals cough, sneeze, or spit. If left untreated, it poses a significant risk of fatality, typically requiring antibiotics for effective management. Common symptoms include a persistent cough, fever, and unexplained weight loss. A tuberculosis vaccine exists and is used in countries where tuberculosis is common. Since the United States has one of the lowest rates of tuberculosis in the world, it is not commonly administered.
As of last Friday, the latest data from health officials indicates that 67 individuals are currently receiving treatment for active tuberculosis cases linked to the ongoing outbreak in Kansas. Wyandotte County reported 60 cases, while Johnson County recorded seven cases.
In the two counties, an additional 79 individuals were found to be carrying dormant tuberculosis, often identified as latent cases. The WHO states that individuals infected with tuberculosis bacteria but not exhibiting the disease are not contagious. Approximately a quarter of the global population is infected, but only 5 to 10 percent of those individuals will develop the disease and its symptoms.
Lori Tremmel Freeman, the CEO of The National Association of Country and City Health Officials, told CNN that the Trump administration’s pause on federal health agency communications has impacted public awareness of the outbreak.
“Information exchange really matters and helps to shape and guide these outbreaks, and we’re having a lull in that right now, which makes it concerning if we’re missing out on any important updates or things that could impact how people are addressing disease, the spread of it, what to look for and how to stop it.”
In a proactive move, local health departments are collaborating with patients to pinpoint potential close contacts and offer TB testing free of charge, according to the state agency’s website. Additionally, the CDC sent four employees to the state to aid with contact investigations, testing and screening, according to The New York Times. The team is also actively engaging with community leaders to raise awareness and educate the public about tuberculosis.
“Patients who test positive will be further screened to determine if they have active TB disease or latent TB infection, which will help determine the best treatment. Treatment will be provided through the patient’s local health department, and it will be provided for free if the person is uninsured or the treatment isn’t covered by health insurance.”
Missouri is also experiencing an outbreak. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reported 97 cases in January. Among the reported cases, 33 were located in the state’s northwest region, encompassing areas within the Kansas City metropolitan vicinity.
The outbreak in Kansas has garnered significant attention; however, it does not rank as the largest in recent U.S. history, The New York Times reported.
Between 2015 and 2017, homeless shelters in Georgia experienced an outbreak that resulted in over 170 confirmed cases of tuberculosis, alongside more than 400 instances of latent infection. In 2021, a total of 113 individuals in the United States contracted the disease following the receipt of contaminated bone allograft tissue sourced from an infected donor.
During a budget presentation to the Kansas Legislature on January 14, Ashley Goss, the state’s deputy secretary for public health, reported that individuals receiving treatment for tuberculosis seemed to be on the path to recovery.
Moumita Basuroychowdhury is a Contributing Reporter at The National Digest. After earning an economics degree at Cornell University, she moved to NYC to pursue her MFA in creative writing. She enjoys reporting on science, business and culture news. You can reach her at moumita.b@thenationaldigest.com.