An 'unprecedented' outbreak of tuberculosis is spreading by Kansas, whereby officials warn that it might be worse.
The outbreak is the 'largest documented outbreak in American history', announced Ministry of Health and the Environment, announced on Monday, according to KSHB.
From Friday there were 67 active cases and 79 latent cases – which means that people are infected with the bacteria, but do not have the disease, said health officials.
Cases were reported for the first time in January and quickly spread through the metropolitan area of ​​Kansas City, Kake reports.
It spreads through the air when infected people cough, speak or sing, and mainly influences the lungs.
“This outbreak is still underway, which means that there can be more cases,” said Jill Bronaugh, communication director of the health department at the Topeka Capital journal.
She noted that “there are a few other states who currently have large outbreaks that are also underway.”
In order to stop the distribution, the Health Department of Personnel and Resources mobilized to tackle the 'unprecedented' outbreak, Ashley Goss, the deputy secretary of public health for the Department, said last week during a meeting of the Senate Committee on Public Health And the well -being.
An outbreak of tuberculosis is spreading by Kansas, where officials say it can get worse
It spreads through the air when infected people cough, speak or sing, and mainly influences the lungs
She noted that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention support the efforts to tackle the outbreak.
'CDC stays on the ground to support [the efforts]”She said. “That is not negative. This is normal if something is unprecedented or a big outbreak of any kind, they will come and give us means to put an end to it. '
Goss also noted that the department is currently working with employers involved 'in the outbreak.
“We expect to find more more, but we hope that the more we think that latent is tuberculosis and is not active, so that their lives are not disturbed to stay at home from work because it is very contagious,” she said.
Symptoms of the bacterial infection include a long -term cough, including a bloody cough, nocturnal sweating and weight loss.
Those symptoms can last for weeks or even months, warn health officials.
But at least 90 percent of people who get infected with the disease never have symptoms and have latent tuberculosis, Dr. Dana Hawkinson, the medical director of Infection Representation Control at the Health System of the University of Kansas, at KSN.
“The … 10 percent or less that developing tuberculosis disease is usually what people are known, and that can be an emergency or problem of public health,” she said.
From Friday, the Ministry of Health and the Environment reported 67 active cases and 79 latent cases
“It is vital that our infrastructure is good for public health, so that we can identify who has tuberculosis disease and then who can be their contacts so that they can reduce the spread to other people.”
Sedgwick County Health Department Deputy Director Chris Steward also said it is important for people to acknowledge that we have tuberculosis … Just like we have other whooping cough and other diseases.
“So if you cough, cover cough,” he said. “If you are sick, go to the doctor and just know that the risk of tuberculosis in Sedgwick County is very low to the general public.”
Every patient who tests positive is then screened to determine whether he has an active or latent infection, the health department of which said: 'will help determine the best treatment.
“The treatment will be provided via the local health department of the patient and this will be provided free of charge if the person is uninsured or the treatment is not covered by a health insurance,” the Department said in a statement.
In order to handle the distribution, the Health Department of Personnel and Resources Mobilized to the infected communities, Ashley Goss, the deputy secretary of public health for the Department, said last week during a meeting of the Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare
The treatment mainly includes four antibiotics that patients would take a few weeks before they are weaned into two pills.
Sometimes people who are infected with the disease may have to take the antibiotics for six months or more.
But for active patients, after only 10 days of taking the medication and having three sputum tests, they can generally no longer transfer the infection.
“They are no longer contagious,” said Goss. “They can continue their lives, they don't have to stay away from people and they can go back to work, do things as long as they keep taking their medicines.”
