Health officials monitoring Tuberculosis cases in Wyandotte County, but say risk is low
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment along with the Unified Government Public Health Department are monitoring a small number of Tuberculosis cases in Wyandotte County.
Fewer than 10 people are said to have the infectious disease, KDHE said in a news release Wednesday. Some of the cases have been identified as multi-drug resistant TB, which is a version of the bacteria that is resistant to the main antibiotics used for treatment.
The state health department said there is minimal risk to the public.
Local and state officials are working to make sure the patients receive care and that the disease does not spread. They are also receiving guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
TB spreads through the air when an infected person who has developed symptoms coughs, sneezes or spits. The disease is treatable and most people who get infected do not develop an active case because the body’s defenses can protect the person, KDHE said.
The Unified Government’s health department is working to identify close contacts of the patients infected with TB and will provide a test at no cost to them.
