Kansas is grappling with one of the largest tuberculosis (TB) outbreaks in U.S. history as it stretches into its second year. The outbreak, which began with the first reported cases in January 2024, has already led to the infection of 67 individuals with active TB and another 79 with latent infections. Despite efforts to contain the disease, the highly contagious bacteria continue to pose significant challenges. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has dispatched a team to Kansas to assist in investigating and managing this unprecedented health crisis.
Tuberculosis, a leading cause of death due to infectious diseases worldwide, is responsible for over 1.5 million deaths annually. In Kansas, the outbreak has already claimed two lives since last year. The airborne nature of TB compounds the difficulty in containment, as the bacteria can linger in the air for several hours after an infected individual coughs, speaks, or sings, making it highly contagious.
While tuberculosis cases are not entirely uncommon in the United States, the scale of this outbreak is extraordinary. According to CDC data, there were 9,633 TB cases reported in 2023 and 565 deaths in 2022. Despite these figures, TB remains a relatively low-risk concern for the general public in the U.S., partly due to the existence of a vaccine that is not typically administered in the country given the historically low infection rates.
The CDC emphasizes that about one in ten people with latent TB infections will develop the disease. The agency's involvement in Kansas highlights the seriousness of the situation as they work alongside local health officials to curb further spread. Kansas health officials have reassured residents that the risk to the general public remains "very low," even as efforts intensify to address this health emergency.
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