Ishita Roy

Kansas Reports The Largest Tuberculosis Outbreak In US History

Tuberculosis Outbreak in Kansas

The state of Kansas in the US is facing the largest ou<span>tb</span>reak of <span><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/tuberculosis">tuberculosis</a></span> (TB) they have ever had in the US history. At of January 24, according to the Kansas Division of Public Health and Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), there are 67 active cases, while as of January 17, there were 79 latent cases. Most of the cases have been reported in Wyandotte County, and some of them have also been seen in the Johnson County. 

People with an active infection feel sick and can spread it to other, they also have the symptoms. Whereas latent infection are those where people do not feel sick and cannot spread it. 

As per Jill Bronaugh, a KDHE spokesperson, this is the "largest documented outbreak in US history, presently." In a statement to a media outlet, Bronaugh said, "This is mainly due to the rapid number of cases in the short amount of time. This outbreak is still ongoing, which means that there could be more cases. There are a few other states that currently have large outbreaks that are also ongoing." Bronaugh also noted that it was in the 1950s, when for the first time the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) started monitoring and reporting TB cases. 

Previously, as per the KDHE reports, the diseases had spread in 2023, where the active cases were at 51, which jumped to 109 in 2024. For active patients, 10 days of medication after having three sputum tests, the transmission usually is not possible. This means they are no longer contagious, and they do not have to stay away from people or skip work. However, the treatment for both, active and latent cases continue for several months. 

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), TB is an infectious disease caused by bacteria that most often affects the lungs. It spreads through the air when people with TB cough, sneeze or spit. 

As per the 2017 study, titled The History of Tuberculosis: from the first historical records to the isolation of Koch's bacillus published in the Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene, TB happens due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MT), which lasts throughout the life course and determines the formation of tubercles in different parts of the body. MT has ancient origins and have survived over 70,000 years. This also infects 2 billion people worldwide, with 10.4 million new cases each year. It is also responsible for 1.4 million deaths. 

<ul><li>A cough that lasts more than three weeks</li><li>Coughing up blood or phlegm</li><li>Chest pain</li><li>Fever</li><li>Chills</li><li>Night sweats</li><li>Weight loss</li><li>Loss of appetite</li><li>Weakness or fatigue</li><li>Feeling generally unwell</li></ul>

<ul><li>Swollen glands</li><li>Body aches and pains</li><li>Swollen joints or ankles</li><li>Tummy or pelvic pain</li><li>Constipation</li><li>Dark or cloudy urine</li><li>Headache</li><li>Being sick</li><li>Feeling confused</li><li>A stiff neck</li></ul>

It was nearly 3 million years ago when the early progenitor of MT may have been infected in hominids in East Africa, notes the study. As per another study titled Is Mycobacterium tuberculosis 15,000 years old? by V Kapur, et.al., it was some 20,000 to 15,000 years ago when for the first time, the common ancestor of the modern strains of MT had appeared. 

In fact, studies have shown that even ancient Egyptian mummies dating back to 2400 BC also revealed skeletal deformities indicated tuberculosis. However, the written and documented evidence describing TB was found in 3300 and 2300 years ago in India and China respectively. Other written documents are found in the Biblical books of Deuteronomy and Leviticus, which described TB with the ancient word schachepheth. 

However, it was not until in 1882, on March 24, mentions CDC, when Robert Koch announced to the Berlin Physiological Society that he had discovered the cause of tuberculosis.

CDC website mentions: Koch continued his studies on tuberculosis, hoping to find a cure. In 1890, he announced the discovery of tuberculin, a substance derived from tubercle bacilli, which he thought was capable of arresting bacterial development in_vitro and in animals. This news gave rise to tremendous hope throughout the world, which was soon replaced by disillusionment when the product turned out to be an ineffective therapeutic agent. Tuberculin later proved to be a valuable diagnostic tool.

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The state of Kansas in the US is facing the largest outbreak of tuberculosis (TB) they have ever had in the US history. At of January 24, according to the Kansas Division of Public Health and Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), there are 67 active cases, while as of January 17, there were 79 latent cases. Most of the cases have been reported in Wyandotte County, and some of them have also been seen in the Johnson County. People with an active infection feel sick and can spread it to other, they also have the symptoms. Whereas latent infection are those where people do not feel sick and cannot spread it. As per Jill Bronaugh, a KDHE spokesperson, this is the "largest documented outbreak in US history, presently." In a statement to a media outlet, Bronaugh said, "This is mainly due to the rapid number of cases in the short amount of time. This outbreak is still ongoing, which means that there could be more cases. There are a few other states that currently have large outbreaks that are also ongoing." Bronaugh also noted that it was in the 1950s, when for the first time the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) started monitoring and reporting TB cases. Previously, as per the KDHE reports, the diseases had spread in 2023, where the active cases were at 51, which jumped to 109 in 2024. For active patients, 10 days of medication after having three sputum tests, the transmission usually is not possible. This means they are no longer contagious, and they do not have to stay away from people or skip work. However, the treatment for both, active and latent cases continue for several months. What is TB?As per the World Health Organization (WHO), TB is an infectious disease caused by bacteria that most often affects the lungs. It spreads through the air when people with TB cough, sneeze or spit. As per the 2017 study, titled The History of Tuberculosis: from the first historical records to the isolation of Koch's bacillus published in the Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene, TB happens due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MT), which lasts throughout the life course and determines the formation of tubercles in different parts of the body. MT has ancient origins and have survived over 70,000 years. This also infects 2 billion people worldwide, with 10.4 million new cases each year. It is also responsible for 1.4 million deaths. Common Symptoms Include:A cough that lasts more than three weeksCoughing up blood or phlegmChest painFeverChillsNight sweatsWeight lossLoss of appetiteWeakness or fatigueFeeling generally unwellSevere Symptoms may also include:Swollen glandsBody aches and painsSwollen joints or anklesTummy or pelvic painConstipationDark or cloudy urineHeadacheBeing sickFeeling confusedA stiff neckThe OriginIt was nearly 3 million years ago when the early progenitor of MT may have been infected in hominids in East Africa, notes the study. As per another study titled Is Mycobacterium tuberculosis 15,000 years old? by V Kapur, et.al., it was some 20,000 to 15,000 years ago when for the first time, the common ancestor of the modern strains of MT had appeared. In fact, studies have shown that even ancient Egyptian mummies dating back to 2400 BC also revealed skeletal deformities indicated tuberculosis. However, the written and documented evidence describing TB was found in 3300 and 2300 years ago in India and China respectively. Other written documents are found in the Biblical books of Deuteronomy and Leviticus, which described TB with the ancient word schachepheth. However, it was not until in 1882, on March 24, mentions CDC, when Robert Koch announced to the Berlin Physiological Society that he had discovered the cause of tuberculosis.CDC website mentions: Koch continued his studies on tuberculosis, hoping to find a cure. In 1890, he announced the discovery of tuberculin, a substance derived from tubercle bacilli, which he thought was capable of arresting bacterial development in_vitro and in animals. This news gave rise to tremendous hope throughout the world, which was soon replaced by disillusionment when the product turned out to be an ineffective therapeutic agent. Tuberculin later proved to be a valuable diagnostic tool.