Kansas reports largest TB outbreak in history, CDC says not officially

Jan 28

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Lauren Taylor Anchor

By Lauren Taylor (Anchor), Kalé Carey (Reporter), Jake Larsen (Video Editor)

Kansas health officials are responding to an outbreak of tuberculosis (TB) that has spread across two counties near Kansas City. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment(KDHE) said the outbreak is the largest in U.S. history, but federal officials dispute the claim.

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Reported tuberculosis cases in Kansas

Since January 2024, the KDHE has confirmed 67 cases of TB in Wyandotte County and Johnson County. Of those 67 cases, two people have died.

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Wyandotte County is reporting the most cases, with 60 infections. Johnson County, located just south of Kansas City, makes up the remaining seven.

In addition to the confirmed cases, public health officials say 79 individuals have been exposed to TB bacteria but have not yet shown symptoms.

While Kansas officials call it “the largest documented outbreak in U.S. history,” the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said it’s currently among the largest.

Federal officials point to other large TB outbreaks in recent years. A 2015 outbreak in Georgia infected more than 170 people, with hundreds more testing positive for the bacteria. More recently, a 2021 outbreak linked to a contaminated bone graft product infected 113 surgery patients.

How tuberculosis spreads, local response

According to the CDC, TB is a contagious, airborne disease that typically spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes. While it is curable with proper medication, untreated TB can be fatal. The bacteria can target any body part but most commonly affect the lungs, kidneys or brain.

Despite the outbreak’s toll, Kansas officials said the risk to the general public remains very low. The KDHE is working closely with the CDC to monitor the situation and prevent further spread.

Tags: CDC, Kansas, Kansas City

[Lauren Taylor]

KANSAS OFFICIALS SAY ONE OF THE WORLD’S DEADLIEST INFECTIOUS DISEASES IS CAUSING ONE OF THE LARGEST OUTBREAKS IN DECADES–BUT THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION SAYS NOT QUITE.

TWO COUNTIES NEAR THE KANSAS CITY METRO AREA HAVE REPORTED 67 CASES OF TUBERCULOSIS SINCE 2024–AN OUTBREAK KILLING TWO PEOPLE.

THE STATE’S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT REPORTS WYANDOTTE COUNTY HAS THE MOST CASES–SIXTY–WHILE JOHNSON COUNTY HAS THE REST.

PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY NEARLY 80 PEOPLE HAVE THE T-B BACTERIA BUT AREN’T YET SICK WITH THE DISEASE.

BASED ON DATA, THE KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR CALLS THIS THE LARGEST OUTBREAK IN U-S HISTORY SINCE CASES STARTED BEING TRACKED IN THE 1950’S

FEDERAL OFFICIALS COUNTER THE CLAIM, SAYING THE OUTBREAK IS AMONG THE LARGEST BUT CITES GEORGIA’S 2015 CASES WHERE MORE THAN 170 PEOPLE WERE REPORTED SICK WITH HUNDREDS MORE DETECTED.

THE CDC ALSO POINTS TO 2021 WHEN 113 SURGERY PATIENTS CONTRACTED TB FROM A BONE GRAFT PRODUCT.

TB TYPICALLY MOVES THROUGH THE AIR, SPREADING BETWEEN PERSON TO PERSON VIA COUGHING OR SNEEZING, ACCORDING TO THE CDC.

ALTHOUGH ITS CURABLE, EXPERTS SAY IT’S FATAL IF NOT TREATED BECAUSE THE BACTERIA CAN TARGET ANY PART OF THE HUMAN BODY–ATTACKING THE KIDNEYS, BRAIN OR MOST COMMONLY THE LUNGS.

KANSAS OFFICIALS SAY THE RISK TO THE PUBLIC REMAINS VERY LOW BUT ARE WORKING WITH THE CDC TO COMBAT THE ONGOING OUTBREAK.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M LAUREN TAYLOR