Kansas City is battling an “unprecedented” tuberculosis outbreak affecting two counties, with health officials warning that the spread remains ongoing and may not be contained yet.
A tuberculosis outbreak, the largest in U.S. history, has infected 67 people in Wyandotte and Johnson counties as of January 24, 2025. Wyandotte County accounts for 60 cases, while Johnson County has seven.
The TB outbreak was first reported in 2024. It has since grown into the largest documented outbreak in U.S. history, according to Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) spokesperson Jill Bronaugh. “This is mainly due to the rapid number of cases in the short amount of time,” she said.
Health officials in Kansas said they have been dealing with an "unprecedented" tuberculosis (TB) outbreak in the northeastern part of the state.https://t.co/nolVOBqLLE
— ABC 13 News – WSET (@ABC13News) January 27, 2025
Despite the severity of the outbreak, which has predominantly affected Wyandotte County, the KDHE reports a “very low risk” to the general public, including nearby counties. However, officials urge continued vigilance to prevent further spread.
“This outbreak is still ongoing, which means that there could be more cases,” Bronaugh said. “There are a few other states that currently have large outbreaks that are also ongoing.”
To address the outbreak, KDHE and local health departments are working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Their efforts include tracking cases, treating infected individuals, and implementing measures to prevent new infections.
While the Kansas City metro area continues to grapple with this outbreak, statewide TB cases have seen a significant decline. In 2024, KDHE reported 109 active cases and 626 latent infections. By early 2025, these numbers had dropped to just one active case and seven latent infections.
Despite statewide improvements, the TB outbreak remains a concern. KDHE Deputy Secretary Ashley Goss said the outbreak began with 65 active cases and a similar number of latent infections last summer. Active cases have since dropped to about 32, showing progress in containment.
Goss called the outbreak “unprecedented” in a recent discussion with the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee. “Some of you are aware, we have and still have mobilized staff and resources addressing an unprecedented tuberculosis outbreak in one of our counties,” Goss told lawmakers.
She reiterated, “We are working collaboratively with CDC on that. CDC remains on the ground with us to support. That’s not a negative. This is normal when there’s something unprecedented or a large outbreak of any kind, they will come and lend resources to us to help get a stop to that. We are trending in the right direction right now.”
A Kansas Department of Health and Environment official told a Kansas Senate committee Tuesday the agency continues to work to resolve an "unprecedented" tuberculosis outbreak in Wyandotte County:
https://t.co/8OZ61MpHJH— KSHB 41 News (@KSHB41) January 25, 2025
Goss explained that active TB patients are generally no longer contagious after 10 days of medication and three negative sputum tests. “They can go about their lives, they don’t have to stay away from people, and they can go back to work, do the things, as long as they continue to take their meds,” she explained.
The treatment for both active and latent TB cases typically lasts several months. KDHE is also working with several large employers affected by the outbreak. TB is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis and primarily affects the lungs, though it can spread to the brain, kidneys, or spine.
TB exists in two forms: inactive (latent) and active. Latent TB occurs when the bacteria are dormant, meaning the person has no symptoms and cannot spread the disease. However, without treatment, latent TB can develop into active TB disease, which is contagious and potentially life-threatening.
Active TB is marked by symptoms such as a persistent cough lasting three weeks or more, chest pain, coughing up blood or mucus, fatigue, weight loss, fever, chills, and night sweats.
The disease spreads through the air when a person with active TB coughs, speaks, or sings, particularly in enclosed spaces with poor ventilation. The bacteria can remain airborne for hours, putting those nearby at risk of infection.
Preventing TB involves treating latent TB to stop it from progressing to the active stage. For active TB disease, several months of antibiotic treatment are required to eliminate the infection and prevent further spread.
Early detection, proper treatment, and public awareness are crucial to controlling TB and reducing the risk of severe outbreaks.
