KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has declared the current outbreak of tuberculosis (TB) as the largest recorded outbreak of the disease in U.S. history. With as many as 67 active cases reported as of January 24, 2025, the epidemic has raised significant concern among health officials, but they stress the risk to the general public remains low.
According to KDHE, 60 of these active cases are concentrated in Wyandotte County, with the remaining seven cases located in Johnson County. The health department is also tracking 79 confirmed latent TB cases, primarily within Wyandotte County. While the recent confirmation of TB cases dates back to January 2024, the state has been monitoring TB occurrences closely since the outbreak began.
Ashley Goss, the Deputy Secretary of Public Health, made her concerns clear during discussions at the state Senate, stating, “Currently, Kansas has the largest outbreak they've ever had in history.” Goss’s statements highlight the dramatic increase in cases, which has made Kansas the focal point of TB management strategies nationwide.
Health officials, including Jill Bronaugh, also from KDHE, confirmed the historic nature of this outbreak, asserting, “This outbreak is the largest documented outbreak in U.S. history, presently,” which underlines the urgent need for effective public health responses.
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Control with the University of Kansas Health System, outlined the importance of treatment availability, indicating the protocols involved, “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.”
Symptoms of TB can include persistent cough, night sweats, weight loss, and fever, usually indicating active disease. This illness, once known as “consumption” due to its heavy toll on health, thrives when individuals are placed in close quarters with someone exhibiting these symptoms.
Despite the alarming numbers, health officials have continuously insisted the public risk remains very low. Adrienne Byrne from the Sedgwick County Health Department reassured the community, stating, “It is not easy to contract. You can’t walk by someone on the street or even in a restaurant and be at risk for TB.” Instead, the infection requires prolonged contact with infected individuals who cough or sneeze, releasing the bacteria.
The KDHE is currently collaborating with large employers within the affected areas to conduct thorough contact tracing and offering TB testing at no cost. These efforts are part of standard infectious disease investigation practices. The department's proactive stance aims to reduce disruption among the workforce and the broader community.
With 109 active TB cases documented at the state level for 2024 and 626 latent TB cases, these statistics reveal concerns for future health investments and disease management efforts. Kansas averages eight to ten TB cases per year, but the spike indicates significant changes tied to other emergent health threats post-COVID-19.
Dr. Hawkinson emphasizes the role of resources and infrastructure, stating, “It is vitally important our public health infrastructure is good, so we can identify who has tuberculosis disease and their contacts.” The success of this TB outbreak response speaks to increased collaboration with local entities, healthcare institutions, and community partners established during COVID-19 prevention activities.
TB has historically seen fluctuations in its incidence within major urban settings. The CDC reported over 9,600 cases nationwide for 2023, showing trends reversing after years of consistent declines before the pandemic. The outbreak serves as both a reminder of the persistent threat of infectious diseases and the need for constant vigilance.
Protecting public health entails comprehensive strategies, rapid response to outbreaks, and maintaining community education efforts to safely manage future occurrences. These new TB cases reaffirm the importance of protective measures against resurgence, and the need for communities to be informed and prepared.