Tuberculosis outbreak in Kansas City grows; one of largest in U.S. history – National [Video]

An outbreak of tuberculosis in the Kansas City area has grown into one of the largest ever recorded in the United States, with dozens of active cases of the infectious disease reported, according to health officials.

As of Jan. 24, 67 active cases of tuberculosis, or TB, had been reported in Wyandotte and Johnson counties in Kansas.

The outbreak began last year, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment said on its website. It did not specify a source of the outbreak.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is monitoring 384 people for TB exposure and helping with testing and treatment, a spokesperson said in a statement.

“While this outbreak is larger than normal, the risk remains low for the general public,” the spokesperson said.

Tuberculosis, which spreads through the air, is caused by a bacterium that typically affects the lungs, but can also impact other parts of the body, such as the …