An unprecedented tuberculosis (TB) outbreak in Kansas has reached historic levels, becoming the largest recorded in U.S. history.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has reported 67 active cases since 2024, with 60 in Wyandotte County and 7 in Johnson County.

Additionally, 79 latent infections—77 in Wyandotte County and 2 in Johnson County—have been identified.

“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 (KDHE), told the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee on January 21, according to the Topeka Capital-Journal.

A KDHE spokesperson later clarified the statement, explaining that the current outbreak “is the largest documented outbreak in U.S. history.” Newsweek contacted the KDHE via email for further comment.

Why This Matters

TB, though treatable, remains a serious infectious disease that can lead to complications and fatalities if untreated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate 13 million Americans live with inactive TB and about 10 percent of these individuals could develop active TB without treatment.

The sharp rise in TB cases—from 51 statewide in 2023 to 109 in 2024—has placed a spotlight on public health measures. Kansas health officials are actively working to contain the outbreak, partnering with the CDC to prevent further transmission.

What to Know

TB is caused by bacteria that primarily attack the lungs but can affect other parts of the body. The infection spreads through the air via coughs or speech but requires prolonged contact for transmission.

Active TB disease makes individuals sick and is infectious, while latent TB infections are dormant, non-contagious and symptom-free but can become active.

Treatment is available for both active and latent TB infections and involves a several-month regimen of antibiotics. Active TB patients are typically non-contagious after 10 days of treatment.

Wyandotte County has been the hardest hit, but health officials maintain that the general public remains at “very low risk.”

What People Are Saying

Goss told the Senate Committee: “Some of you are aware, we have and still have mobilized staff and resources addressing an unprecedented tuberculosis outbreak in one of our counties. We are working collaboratively with CDC on that. CDC remains on the ground with us to support. That’s not a negative.

“This is normal when there’s something unprecedented or a large outbreak of any kind, they will come and lend resources to us to help get a stop to that.”

What Happens Next

Kansas health officials and the CDC are continuing their collaborative response to the outbreak.

Their efforts include identifying and testing individuals who have been in close contact with TB patients and ensuring that both active and latent cases receive proper treatment.

Vaccinations for TB are available in the U.S., though they are seldom used, according to the CDC.

For now, Goss said that infections are “trending in the right direction.”

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The Kansas City Chiefs are champions of the AFC. Who will they face in the 2025 Super Bowl?

Since the Eagles won the NFC championship game earlier on Sunday, they’re also headed to New Orleans in a couple of weeks to take on the Chiefs.

Super Bowl 59 will be the Chiefs’ third straight appearance in the NFL title game, a feat no other team has accomplished before. It will also be a rematch of Super Bowl 57, when the Eagles and Chiefs faced off in State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Kansas City came away with the win in that one, 38-35.]

Here’s what to know:

Who will the Chiefs play in the 2025 Super Bowl?

The Chiefs will play the Eagles in Super Bowl 59.

This year’s Super Bowl is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 9 with a kickoff time of 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.

Fox owns the rights to broadcast this year’s Super Bowl, so football fans in the United States can turn to their local Fox affiliate to watch the Big Game. Alternatively, the game will be available to stream on the Fox Sports app and Fubo, which offers a free trial.

How many times have the Chiefs been in the Super Bowl?

Super Bowl 59 will be the Chiefs’ seventh Super Bowl appearance in franchise history and they’re 4-2 in their previous six games.

Kansas City won Super Bowls 58, 57, 54 and 4 against the 49ers, Eagles, 49ers and Vikings, respectively. They lost Super Bowl 55 to the Buccaneers and the first Super Bowl to the Packers.

Kansas State point guard Dug McDaniel is a self-proclaimed “pass-first” point guard.

That doesn’t mean he can’t score the ball. He scored a team-high 15 points in Saturday’s victory against the West Virginia Mountaineers. Afterward, he said it helps teammates Max Jones and Brendan Hausen when the point guard is aggressive.

“It definitely helps the offense when the head of the snake of being aggressive,” McDaniel said. “Putting pressure on the defense, it opens it up for guys like Max and Brendan to get easier shots because they have to respect what I’m doing.”

The victory helped the Wildcats snap a six-game losing streak. Coach Jerome Tang has made an effort to make McDaniel become a better scorer.

“Me and coach been talking the last few days,” McDaniel said. “He’s been preaching to me to be aggressive, think score first. The pass is always going to be there. I’m a pass-first point guard. That’s like second nature to me. He just wants me to be aggressive, put pressure on the defense early so I can get my guys open.”

TANG APPRECIATES THE FANS

Tang had been under fire during the losing streak, taking criticism from fans the past few weeks. The win should calm the fan base at the time being. The Wildcats (8-11 overall and 2-6) need a lot of work to improve their resume if they want an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Tang was thankful for the strong fan turnout.

“So thankful to the students, man,” Tang said. “I walked out and I saw them, my joy tank was full seeing them. They really provided great energy for us and allowed us to get off to a great start.”

Shandel Richardson is the publisher of Kansas State Wildcats On SI. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com

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