An outbreak of tuberculosis (TB) in the Kansas City area, primarily affecting Wyandotte and Johnson counties, has escalated into one of the largest recorded in the US. As of January 24, 67 active cases were reported. This contagious disease, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, spreads through airborne droplets. The surge in TB cases in 2023 is believed to be a consequence of delays in treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. The World Health Organization indicates that TB may now be the leading infectious disease killer, following a decline during the pandemic.
"Health seeking" as it's called was very poor for all diseases other than COVID during the pandemic, said Dr Ramya Ananthakrishnan, director of REACH, a non-profit organization in India.
A large number of people who had extra pulmonary TB also didn't seek healthcare during that period, demonstrating the impact of isolation on TB treatment during the pandemic.
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