KANSAS (KSNT) – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) says Kansas is facing the largest documented tuberculosis outbreak in American history.
Nexstar’s KSNT spoke to KDHE Communications Director Jill Bronaugh, who said the agency is working with the Centers for Disease Control for guidance. As of Jan. 24, 2025, there were 67 people in Kansas with active cases of tuberculosis. Additionally, Bronaugh says there are 79 confirmed latent tuberculosis cases, or cases in which people are infected with the tuberculosis bacteria but don’t have the disease. If the bacteria become active and multiplies, a latent infection can turn into tuberculosis disease, according to the CDC.
“The current Kansas City, Kan. Metro tuberculosis (TB) outbreak is the largest documented outbreak in U.S. history, presently (since the 1950’s, when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) started monitoring and reporting TB cases),” Bronaugh wrote. “This outbreak is still ongoing, which means that there could be more cases.”
According to Bronaugh, in 2024 there were 79 active and 213 latent outbreak and non-outbreak tuberculosis cases. In 2023, the CDC recorded 46 active tuberculosis cases in Kansas. There were two reported deaths in 2024 associated with this outbreak, Bronaugh says.
Tuberculosis cases in the United States had been on the decline since there were roughly 25,000 recorded in 1993, until we entered the COVID-19 pandemic. Cases grew steadily after 2020’s low of 7,163, ticking up each year until the total hit 9,633 in 2023, according to the most recent data.
“TB is an infectious disease that most often affects the lungs and is caused by a type of bacteria,” Bronaugh said. “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.”
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Control with the University of Kansas Health System, said the risk is low and treatment is available.
“Typically, it is four drugs for a few weeks, and then we go down to two drugs. Most of them are pills. People need to be treated for at least six months and sometimes longer,” Dr. Hawkinson shared.
If left untreated, however, TB disease can be fatal. When the immune system is unable to control the bacteria, tubercle bacilli, TB disease can develop. This can happen in different parts of the body, including the lungs, kidneys, brain and bone.
Roughly five percent of people who experience a latent TB infection will develop TB disease without treatment, the CDC says. About 80% of TB disease cases happen in this way.
The CDC says tuberculosis germs are strong and can take a long time to die so it’s important to follow health care provider guidance.
