WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH/Gray News) – An ongoing tuberculosis outbreak in northeast Kansas has become the largest in United States history, according to health officials.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has tracked this outbreak for over a year.
Since 2024, there have been 67 tuberculosis cases reported in two Kansas counties, according to KDHE.
Despite the historic nature of this outbreak, Adrienne Byrne from the Sedgwick County Health Department emphasized that the risk of contracting tuberculosis remains low for the general public.
“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 (tuberculosis),” Byrne stated.
She noted that a person’s likelihood of contracting or spreading the flu is much higher than that of tuberculosis. To contract tuberculosis, a person must spend an extended period in close contact with someone who has the disease.
On average, Sedgwick County sees 8 to 12 tuberculosis cases each year, with 2004 being an outlier, recording 14 cases.
Tuberculosis primarily affects the lungs but can also impact other parts of the body. According to KDHE, an infected person cannot spread tuberculosis through kissing, shaking hands, or sharing food, drinks, or toothbrushes.
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