Cases of Tuberculosis are rising in the Midwest. Here's what you need to know.
Officials say most cases of T.B. in the U.S. are due to dormant infections that have become re-activated, which they say is a reason why people need to get tested and treated.
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Health officials say an outbreak of tuberculosis in the Midwest underscores the need for awareness about the infectious disease.
Tuberculosis, also known as T.B., is an infection caused by a bacteria that mainly affects the lungs and is transmitted from person to person with prolonged contact.
Officials say while annually there have been cases of T.B. in the Tri-State area, there has not been a been a cluster of cases that would constitute an outbreak.
The CDC says the current outbreak in Kansas has led to two deaths, 67 active infections and 79 latent infections, where people test positive but did not get sick.
Officials say most cases of T.B. in the U.S. are due to dormant infections that have become re-activated, which they say is a reason why people need to get tested and treated.
Although the overall risk of contracting T.B. remains low, it's important to know the symptoms.
They include a persistent cough, fever, fatigue and body aches.
If you experience these symptoms or are exposed to someone who has T.B., doctors say you need to be tested.
If you are infected, treatment with high-dose antibiotics is necessary to avoid a serious infection that can spread from the lungs to other parts of the body.
Experts say people who have higher risk of T.B. exposure include people born in or people who travel to countries where the disease is common such as India, Indonesia, China and the Philippines.
People who live in large group settings such as homeless shelters, prisons or jails, along with people who work in places where T.B. is most likely to spread including hospital, shelters, correctional facilities and nursing homes are also at higher risk of contracting the disease.
