Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Kansas health officials have reported a tuberculosis outbreak in the northeast of the state, with 67 cases since the beginning of January.
So far officials have reported 60 cases active in Wyandotte County and 7 active cases in Johnson Countyaccording to data from the Department of Health and Environment in Kansas. Since 2024, there have been 2 latent cases in Johnson County and 77 cases in Wyandotte County, which is on the border of Missouri.
The numbers mark The largest burst of tuberculosis in history In the US, according to Topka Capital-Journal, part of the USA Today network.
The spread is “a very low risk to the general public, including the circles around,” the officials said in the report. Local health departments are working with patients to identify close contacts and perform free tests, regardless of insurance status.
Tuberculosis, also known as TbIt is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis, according to centers for control and prevention of diseases. There are two conditions related to TB: inactive TB and active TB.
Kansas health officials said the resulting positive patients would be checked to see if they have active TB disease or Latent TB infection. Doctors can then choose the best treatment for any patient, health officials said.
How is tuberculosis transmitted?
People who have TB germs in their bodies but do not get sick, have Inactive tbor latent infection with tuberculosis. They have no symptoms and cannot spread TB to others. Without treatment, people with inactive TB can develop active TB diseases and get sick, CDC said.
Tuberculosis spreads through the air from one person to another. Tuberculosis microbes are inserted into the air when a person with active lung or throat tuberculosis disease coughs, speaks or sings, CDC said.
Microbes can stay in the air for several hours, depending on the environment. Microbes are more likely to spread to indoor areas or places with poor air circulation (such as a closed vehicle).
People with TB active disease are more likely to spread tuberculosis germs in people with whom they spend time every day, CDC reported.
TB usually affects the lungs, but can also affect the brain, kidneys or spine, CDC said.
What are the symptoms of tuberculosis?
For those who get sick, symptoms i TBC may include:
- A cough lasting three weeks or more
- Chest pain
- Coughing with blood or saliva (phlegm from the depth of the lungs)
- Weakness or fatigue
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Chill
- fever
- Night sweat
Who is endangered by tuberculosis?
Some people may be at a higher risk for tuberculosis if:
- Have been born in or travel often in places where tuberculosis is common, such as places in Asia, Africa and Latin America
- Live or used to live in large groups where tuberculosis is more common, such as homemade shelters, prisons or prisons
- I recently spent time with someone who has active TB disease
- Have a weaker immune system due to some medicines or health conditions such as diabetes, cancer and HIV
- Work in places where tuberculosis is more likely to spread, such as hospitals, shelters for homeless, correctional institutions and homes of the elderly
How is tuberculosis treated?
There is a Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccine for TB disease. It “is not generally used in the United States,” CDC said, but healthcare providers in places where the disease is more common, often vaccinating babies and young children.
“Tell your health care provider if you have received the anti -tuberculosis vaccine, especially if you are being tested for TB infection because it can cause a false positive TB skin test reaction,” CDC said. “Blood tests for TB are my favorite tests for people who received the BCG TB vaccine.”
Treatment for Inactive tb It can take three, four, six or nine months depending on the treatment plan, the CDC said. Treatment can include combinations of medications such as rifapentina, isoniazide and rifampin.
Treatment for active tuberculosis disease It can take four, six or nine months and may include drug combinations such as Ethambutol, isoniazide, Moxifloxac, rifamppin, rifapentine or pyrazinamide, according to CDC.
Contributed: Jason Alatidd, Topeka Capital-Journal
Saleen Martin is a reporter on the USA Today team. It is from Norfolk, Virginia – 757. Follow him on Twitter at @saleenmartin or email it at sdmartin@usatoday.com.
