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Tuberculosis Outbreak in Kansas City Area: Health Officials Respond

An outbreak of tuberculosis (TB) has emerged in the Kansas City region, evolving into one of the most significant incidents recorded in the United States, with numerous active cases confirmed by health authorities.

As of January 24, 67 active TB cases have been identified in Wyandotte and Johnson counties in Kansas. This outbreak originated last year, although the Kansas Department of Health and Environment has not disclosed the specific source responsible for the increase in cases.

The state health department is currently monitoring 384 individuals for potential TB exposure while facilitating testing and treatment, a representative stated. “Although this outbreak is larger than usual, the general risk to the public remains low,” they noted.

Tuberculosis is primarily an airborne disease caused by a bacterium that predominantly affects the lungs but can also impact other areas such as the brain. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that untreated TB can be life-threatening.

Individuals can become infected with TB bacteria that may lie dormant in the body for years without presenting any symptoms; this condition is termed latent TB. If left untreated, latent infections have the potential to progress to active tuberculosis at any time.

Since the beginning of 2024, there have been 79 reported cases of latent TB infections in the Kansas City area, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

Community Response and CDC Involvement

To assist in managing this outbreak, four representatives from the CDC are on-site aiding in contact tracing, testing, and screening efforts. They are working with local community leaders to enhance health education regarding tuberculosis.

Despite these efforts, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment did not provide immediate comments on the ongoing situation.

In broader terms, the U.S. recorded 8,649 TB cases in 2022 and saw an increase to 9,606 cases in 2023, according to CDC statistics. As reported by the World Health Organization in October, tuberculosis has now surpassed COVID-19 as the leading cause of death related to infectious diseases, underscoring the persistent challenges faced in global TB eradication initiatives.

While TB can affect anyone, it is particularly prevalent among those who have lived in crowded living conditions or traveled frequently to regions where the disease is more common.

The largest recorded TB outbreak in the U.S. transpired from 2015 to 2017 at a homeless shelter in Georgia, leading to over 170 active cases and more than 400 latent infections, with the CDC tracking TB cases since the 1950s.

Source
globalnews.ca