January 29, 2025- Kansas is facing the largest recorded tuberculosis outbreak in U.S. history, according to local health officials and ABC News. As of Jan. 24, there have been 67 confirmed cases of active TB including 60 in Wyandotte County and seven in Johnson County, according to the Kanas Department of Health and Environment. Additionally, there are 79 confirmed latent TB cases, including 77 in Wyandotte County and two in Johnson County. Wyandotte County contains part of Kansas City and Johnson County is just southwest of Kansas City.
Last year, the U.S. saw more than 8,700 cases of TB, according to CDC data. Although TB cases have been steadily declining since the mid 1990s, rates increased in 2021, 2022 and 2023, with 2023 matching pre-pandemic levels.
Health officials say the risk to people living in surrounding counties and to the general public is “very low,” and that the department is following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.