Outbreak of Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis — Kansas, 2021–2022

U.S. multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB) is uncommon and usually occurs in non–U.S.-born persons who likely acquired infection years earlier while living in other countries.

An MDR TB outbreak involving 13 persons with active disease and nine with latent TB infections was identified within four Kansas households in 2021 and included multiple U.S.-born children who became infected in Kansas. One person in a neighboring state with an epidemiologic connection to the Kansas outbreak was identified. Controlling this outbreak required newer MDR TB drugs not often used in the United States.

This outbreak underscores the importance of prompt identification and appropriate treatment of TB disease and latent infection, especially MDR TB.