Kansas is currently facing one of the largest tuberculosis (TB) outbreaks recorded in the United States in recent decades. Since January 2024, 67 active TB cases have been confirmed across two counties—exceeding the state’s typical yearly count. An additional 79 individuals have tested positive for latent TB infection, meaning they carry the bacteria but do not show symptoms. State health authorities are monitoring nearly 400 people as testing and treatment efforts continue.

Health officials emphasize that while the risk to the general public remains low, the outbreak is a reminder of how critical a well-functioning public health infrastructure is when it comes to preventing and managing infectious disease outbreaks.

What Is Tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis is a serious bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It primarily affects the lungs and spreads through the air when someone with active TB coughs, speaks, or breathes heavily. TB can be particularly dangerous in settings with close contact and limited access to healthcare, such as prisons, shelters, or overcrowded housing.

While active TB can lead to severe illness and even death if untreated, latent TB remains symptom-free and non-contagious—but can progress into active disease if not addressed. Treatment for both types is available and effective when taken correctly.

Why the Kansas Outbreak Is Concerning

This outbreak is not only significant in size—it’s also raising concerns because of recent limits placed on the powers of public health agencies in Kansas. In 2021, the state legislature banned the governor from ordering business closures during public health emergencies. In 2023, further restrictions were added, preventing health departments from requiring testing, quarantine, or business shutdowns—even in the face of contagious disease outbreaks like TB.

Experts, including Dr. David Dowdy, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins, warn that such legal and resource constraints can weaken outbreak responses. “We know how to contain TB,” he noted. “The challenge is having the tools and people in place to act quickly when an outbreak begins.”

Federal Support Under Pressure

On the national level, public health coordination has also been affected. During the Trump administration, federal health agencies—including the CDC—faced communication restrictions that made it harder to share timely data. These included delays in publishing the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a critical tool for tracking disease trends and informing the public and medical community.

Without transparent and timely information, experts say it’s harder to identify patterns in how diseases like TB are spreading—especially concerning if drug-resistant strains emerge.

A Global Disease with Local Impact

While the Kansas outbreak is notable, it still represents less than 1% of TB cases in the U.S. each year. Around two-thirds of TB cases nationally occur in people who were born outside the United States, highlighting the global nature of TB transmission. However, local outbreaks, especially those involving drug-resistant TB, can quickly become more complex to control without proper surveillance and resources.

International efforts to control TB—such as a major $85 million partnership involving USAID, the Philippines, and private donors—have also been affected by shifting priorities and agency restructuring, leaving global TB elimination efforts in limbo.

Looking Ahead

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment, along with the CDC, continues to monitor the outbreak closely and is working with schools, businesses, and community partners to contain the spread. Educational outreach and symptom monitoring are central to their prevention strategy.

The situation in Kansas is a strong reminder of the importance of investment in public health—from rapid response teams to data transparency and legal support. As Dr. Dowdy put it, “The people in Kansas are doing the best they can—they just need the support and resources to do it well.”

Source:
The Guardian. (2025, February 6). Kansas reckons with large tuberculosis outbreak as health officials hamstrung. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/06/kansas-tuberculosis-public-health