Kansas is facing its largest tuberculosis outbreak in recorded history, with 66 active cases and 79 latent infections reported as of January 2024. The outbreak, traced to visitors from the Federated States of Micronesia, has stressed local public health resources already diminished by two years of pandemic response. Collaboration with community partners has helped coordinate the response efforts. This outbreak highlights the need for continued vigilance in tuberculosis control, especially in areas experiencing low infection rates.
"Currently, Kansas has the largest outbreak that they've ever had in history," Ashley Goss, a deputy secretary at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, told the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee on Tuesday.
This outbreak in an urban, at-risk community resulted in tremendous financial, staffing, and capacity strain on the local public health department, where capacity was already diminished after nearly 2 years of COVID-19 pandemic response.
Collection
[
|
...
]