Kansas Hit With Massive TB Outbreak, ‘Unprecedented’ Surge of Cases

State health officials in Kansas are reporting what they call an “unprecedented” surge of tuberculosis cases in the Kansas City area. They are collaborating with the CDC to contain it and say the overall risk to the public remains low.

Key Facts:

  • The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has recorded 66 active cases of TB and 79 infections in the Kansas City Metro area in 2024.
  • As of this month, total active cases in the area have risen to 67.
  • Wyandotte County has 60 of those active cases, with seven in neighboring Johnson County.
  • KDHE Deputy Secretary Ashley Goss says the CDC is “on the ground” assisting.
  • TB is an infectious disease caused by bacteria that usually affect the lungs.

The Rest of The Story:

KDHE leaders described this year’s TB outbreak in northeast Kansas as something they have not seen before.

They say they have mobilized staff to handle the situation and have the support of the CDC.

Tuberculosis spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or spits.

According to the World Health Organization, around one-quarter of the global population may carry TB bacteria, though most do not develop active symptoms.

Wyandotte County, with 60 active cases, remains the most impacted in the region.

Even so, KDHE officials stress there is little risk to most residents.

Goss said she believes health authorities are “trending in the right direction.”

The World Health Organization reports that 10.8 million people worldwide fell ill with TB in 2023, and 1.25 million died from it.

Experts say TB has reemerged as a leading global cause of death from infectious disease, overtaking COVID-19 in many countries.

Commentary:

This outbreak, while regrettable, is the predictable result of allowing millions of unvaccinated and sometimes ill migrants into the country.

Under the current administration led by President Joe Biden and backed by Democratic lawmakers, our borders have been left open, paving the way for preventable diseases to spread.

It falls to President Trump, who has been a vocal advocate for stricter immigration policies, to step in and correct this failure.

Lives are at stake, and those who allowed this situation to happen should be held fully responsible.

The Bottom Line:

Kansas faces a serious TB outbreak, but authorities say they are making progress in controlling it.

The problem serves as a sad reminder of the challenges that arise when health measures go unchecked.

Read Next

Trump Announces Major Change to the IRS

700 Workers to Lose Their Jobs as Tire Company Shutters Plant After Over Five Decades of Operation

House Oversight Chair Says There Is Evidence of Conservative Debanking, Will Open Investigation