As you may have heard in the news recently, there is an active Tuberculosis (TB) outbreak in Kansas. We want to provide reassurance and key information about TB and the current situation.
Current Outbreak
The ongoing outbreak in Kansas (which is not the largest in U.S. history, despite some reports) has been active for a year. It includes 79 cases of active TB and 213 cases of latent TB in Wyandotte and Johnson counties. According to Kansas health officials, there is no threat to public health. While this outbreak is larger than normal for Kansas, the risk remains low for the general public.
TB is primarily spread through prolonged close contact with an infected individual, such as a family member, close friend, coworker, or classmate. Casual contact, such as passing someone in a hallway, does not typically lead to infection.
What is TB?
Tuberculosis is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis. There are two main types of TB infections:
● Latent TB: The bacteria are present in the body but remain inactive, causing no symptoms and posing no risk of transmission.
● Active TB: The bacteria become active, leading to symptoms such as a prolonged cough, fever, night sweats, bloody cough, and weight loss. Active TB is contagious and requires medical treatment.
Testing
If you or your child is experiencing symptoms of TB (cough lasting longer than 3 weeks, pain in the chest, and coughing up blood or sputum (phlegm) or has had close contact with someone diagnosed with active TB, testing is available through a skin test or blood test.
Is There a Vaccine?
Most children in the United States are not vaccinated against TB. The BCG vaccine exists but is primarily used for infants and young children in countries where TB is more prevalent. It is not part of routine immunization in the U.S. due to the low incidence of TB.
Please contact us at Preferred Pediatrics with any questions or concerns related to this outbreak.
Stay Healthy KC,