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3mo ago

Kansas City Faces One of the Largest Tuberculosis Outbreaks in Recent U.S. History

Health officials report 67 active cases and 79 latent infections in Kansas, with Missouri also affected, as efforts to contain the airborne disease continue.

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Overview

  • The Kansas City area has reported 67 active tuberculosis cases in Kansas and 87 in Missouri, with 79 additional latent infections confirmed in Kansas.
  • Two deaths linked to the outbreak occurred in 2024, though the source of the outbreak remains unidentified, according to health officials.
  • Tuberculosis is an airborne bacterial infection that primarily affects the lungs but can also impact other organs and is preventable with vaccination and treatment adherence.
  • The CDC has deployed four staff members to assist with contact tracing, testing, and community education in the affected areas.
  • While the risk to the general public is considered low, tuberculosis remains the world's leading infectious disease killer, with 1.5 million deaths annually.