The state’s largest tuberculosis outbreak in recorded history continues in the Kansas City metro area, but Lyon County’s health officer doesn’t expect much if any traffic here.
Dr. Ladun Oyenuga discussed the TB outbreak on KVOE’s Morning Show on Wednesday. She says the risk of tuberculosis is low locally — as is the general risk of transmission from person to person.
Nearly 70 cases of active TB have been reported in Kansas, with the vast majority in Wyandotte County and the remainder in Johnson County. There are also nearly 80 cases of latent TB, again with the vast majority in Wyandotte County and the rest in Johnson County. Two people have died. The difference between the two is active TB patients feel sick and can transmit the disease, while latent TB patients do not feel sick and can’t transmit the infection — but they are at risk of developing active tuberculosis.
TB is a bacterial infection that largely infects the lungs, but it can also affect the brain and spinal cord. It is highly infectious, but Dr Oyenuga says it is also easily treatable with antibiotics. A skin test and blood test are needed to confirm a TB infection. Symptoms include a chronic cough lasting at least three weeks, coughing up sputum or blood and phlegm, chest pain, weakness, fatigue, weight loss, appetite loss, fever, chills and night sweats.
*Click here for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s tuberculosis information page.
