A tuberculosis (TB) outbreak that began in January 2024 has continued to spread in Kansas City, Kansas, and nearby counties. So far, 147 people have been diagnosed, with 67 exhibiting symptoms and two reported deaths. The remaining 80 people have a latent TB infection, meaning they carry the bacteria but don’t show symptoms.
TB is a lung disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It spreads through tiny droplets in the air when an infected person coughs, speaks, or breathes. If left untreated, a person with active TB could infect 10 to 15 others.
Although many people associate TB with the past, it is still one of the leading infectious killers worldwide, second only to COVID-19 in recent years. The disease has been around for thousands of years, with cases dating back to ancient times.
Instagram user @mintoreo96 says, “I carry latent TB.”
“I was 4 when I tested positive. My mom said I had to take medication daily that first year. I just remember eating it with grape jelly on toast and it tasted awful.”
The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the comeback of TB cases. From 2020 to 2023, global TB rates increased by 4.6%, reversing years of progress in controlling the disease. In the U.S., cases surged by more than 15% in just one year. Contributing factors include limited healthcare access and shortages of TB medication.
TB is a curable disease, but treatment can be a long and difficult process. Around one in eight TB cases worldwide do not respond to standard medications. Until recently, patients with drug-resistant TB faced two or more years of intense treatment, which required daily pills and frequent injections. Recovery was not always guaranteed, and the medications often cause severe side effects, including nausea, vomiting, kidney damage, and even permanent hearing loss.
TikTok user @bethanyorabona says, “My grandfather spent over a month in a hospital with TB.”
“My grandmother used to talk about how he was fully quarantined, and they were barely allowed to see him. It was scary and he was lucky at the time.”
Now, thanks to medical advancements, the most severe forms of TB can be treated in four to six months using three to four oral medications, making recovery faster and more manageable.
The Kansas outbreak has disproportionately affected low-income communities, highlighting the need for early diagnosis and consistent treatment. Public health officials continue to monitor the situation, but without proper intervention, TB cases could keep rising.
