Kansas health officials are working to investigate and understand a recent outbreak of tuberculosis. Although the prevalence has been higher in Wyandotte County than in surrounding areas, health officials stress that the risk to the general public is low.

Kansas Department of Health and Environment is working with local physicians to identify and track reported cases. Of the 67 active cases reported in the latest outbreak, 60 have been in Wyandotte County and 7 in Johnson County.

Another 77 latent cases have also been identified in Wyandotte County. Latent cases are usually asymptomatic, and can often be prevented from progressing to active with antibiotics.

Symptoms of active tuberculosis include cough, chest pain, and coughing up blood, and the disease is treatable. The infection is spread from a person with the active disease by coughing or other airborne methods.

KCK Mayor Tyrone Garner thanked officials who are helping to handle the outbreak. “We appreciate the hard work of KDHE as they respond to this outbreak and keep our community safe,” said the mayor.