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Local health officials continue warning about what has become the largest documented tuberculosis outbreak in United States history since the 1950s. Health authorities last week announced two people in the Kansas City metro area had died in the outbreak. They asserted there is no threat to the general public. Sixty-seven active cases have been reported in Wyandotte County and seven in Johnson County, Kan.
“The current Kansas City, Kan. Metro tuberculosis (TB) outbreak is the largest documented outbreak in U.S. history when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) started monitoring and reporting TB cases),” KDHE communications director Jill Bronaugh stated. “This outbreak is still ongoing, which means that there could be more cases.”
Officials have identified 79 latent TB infections associated with the outbreak, which means such individuals have an inactive infection. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), working with local health departments, is following guidelines set forth by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to manage the outbreak. These efforts include identifying and testing close contacts of infected individuals and providing treatment to those who test positive.
“The greatest broad risk factor for TB infection, both then and now, is poverty,” explained Dr. Nicholas Comninellis, a public health expert tracking the outbreak. “Low-income people often live in crowded conditions, where contagious transmission is easy. They may have nutrition that weakens their bodily response to infection, and because they have little means to pay for care or transportation, their access to disease screening and treatment is very often impaired.”
The National Institutes for Health previously reported immigration is a driving cause of upticks in TB as unvaccinated individuals move from regions of high incidence, fueling the resurgence in countries like the U.S. which have had a low incidence, the website states.
Health officials have confirmed tuberculosis testing is being offered at no cost to individuals who may have been exposed. Those who test positive will undergo further screening to determine their treatment, which varies for an active tuberculosis disease or latent infection. The health department has confirmed that treatment will be provided free of charge to uninsured patients or those whose insurance doesn’t cover tuberculosis treatment. This approach aligns with CDC guidelines, which recommend that patients complete the full course of treatment, typically lasting 6-9 months, to prevent the development of drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis.
According to the federal health agency, TB is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis and primarily affects the lungs, although it can impact other parts of the body. The CDC estimates that up to 13 million people in the United States live with latent tuberculosis infection. Symptoms of active tuberculosis include a persistent cough lasting three weeks or longer, chest pain, coughing up blood, fatigue, weight loss, fever and night sweats, according to the agency.
Two types of tests are available for tuberculosis detection: a blood test called interferon-gamma release assay and a skin test. Tuberculosis spreads through the air when a person with active pulmonary tuberculosis coughs, speaks or sings. The CDC noted that tuberculosis germs can remain airborne for several hours, especially in poorly ventilated areas.
While this outbreak has raised concerns locally, especially in the immigrant community, health officials note that tuberculosis remains far more prevalent outside the United States, particularly in nations of southern Africa and southern Asia. Historical context underscores the significance of modern prevention efforts – from the 1600s to 1800s, tuberculosis was responsible for 25% of deaths in Europe and the United States.
–Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice
