A tuberculosis outbreak in Kansas City, Kansas, has become the largest documented on record in the United States.

As of Jan. 24, 2025, there have been 67 active cases reported in Wyandotte County (60) and Johnson County (7) since January 2024, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE).

There have also been 79 latent, or asymptomatic, tuberculosis (TB) infections reported over the last year, including 77 in Wyandotte County and two in Johnson County.

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KDHE has reportedly been working with local health departments in response to the outbreak, following guidance on proper treatment and prevention from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In a statement sent to Fox News Digital, KDHE confirmed that the outbreak is “still ongoing, which means there could be more cases.”

Two TB deaths associated with this outbreak were reported in 2024, KDHE noted.

In comparison, the CDC recorded 46 active TB cases in Kansas in 2023.

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“In an effort to provide efficient and quality care to those individuals affected by the outbreak, KDHE assumed responsibility for the coordination and distribution of testing, treatment and medical consultation in Wyandotte County,” the agency shared.

TB is an infectious disease that most often affects the lungs, according to KDHE. It is caused by bacteria that spreads through the air when infected people cough, speak or sing.

“Kansas is not alone in its battle against TB, which kills more than a million people each year.”

It is not spread by kissing, shaking hands, sharing food and drink, or touching objects, the same source stated.

TB symptoms can include coughing, chest pain, coughing up blood or mucus, fatigue, weight loss, fever and night sweats.

Tuberculosis can show up as pulmonary TB, infection in the lungs or extra-pulmonary TB, which are infections in other parts of the body. (iStock)

KDHE confirmed to Fox News Digital that there is a “very low risk” of infection to the general public.

Wendy Thanassi, M.D., senior medical director of TB and Infectious diseases at QIAGEN North America, shared her thoughts on the threat of the outbreak in a separate interview with Fox News Digital.

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“Kansas is not alone in its battle against TB, which kills more than a million people each year,” said the San Francisco-based doctor.

“Every undetected case is an outbreak waiting to happen, yet we have the power to stop TB before it starts.”

KDHE confirmed that the outbreak is “still ongoing, which means there could be more cases.” (iStock)

Thanassi encouraged employers, doctors and community leaders to “organize testing” to stop the spread.

“One simple blood test can identify this sleeping killer before it awakes, and one course of antibiotics can stop it from infecting the people we love,” she said.

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A person with active TB will no longer be infectious “shortly after beginning treatment” with antibiotics, according to KDHE.

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There were 9,633 cases of TB disease reported in the U.S. in 2023, according to the CDC, which is 15.6% more than the prior year.

A common mental health issue could take years off your life, new research has revealed.

People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were found to live shorter lives than those who were not diagnosed, according to a study published in The British Journal of Psychiatry.

Researchers from University College London analyzed the health data of 30,029 U.K. adults with ADHD, then compared it to 300,390 non-ADHD participants, a press release noted.

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They determined that among men with ADHD, life expectancy was shortened by 4.5 to 9 years. For women with ADHD, it was shortened by 6.5 to 11 years.

While the researchers did not look at potential causes for the shortened lifespan, they shared some theories.

“Based on other research, we think that likely reasons are to do with unmet support needs around mental health, risky behaviors and addictive behaviors, all of which are higher in people with ADHD and can lead to suicide and addictions and can convey health risks,” senior author Josh Stott, professor of psychology and language sciences at UCL, told Fox News Digital.

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Another factor may be that society is not set up for people who have different ways of processing information (neurodivergent as opposed to neurotypical), Stott noted. 

“That means people with ADHD might struggle to access services and have difficulties in schooling and employment that affect their life chances and potentially their health,” he added.

For women with ADHD, life expectancy was shortened by 6.5 to 11 years, the researchers determined. (iStock)

The main limitation of the study, according to Stott, is that the researchers could only look at diagnosed rather than undiagnosed people with ADHD, and also that they did not look directly at causes of death. 

‘Tip of the iceberg’

Dr. Ujjwal Ramtekkar, an Ohio-based psychiatrist and chief medical officer at LifeStance Health, was not involved in the study but said it addresses a “critical gap” in the understanding of life expectancy for adults with ADHD. 

“It’s the first study to use direct mortality data rather than predictive models based on self-reported information,” he told Fox News Digital.

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“The study findings confirm what we’ve long suspected and give us a more accurate picture of health outcomes in adults with ADHD.”

Ramtekkar noted that there is a “significant underdiagnosis” of ADHD in adults, with only about one in nine cases identified. 

“ADHD isn’t about having low motivation or being lazy or scatterbrained — it’s a real health condition with real risks,” an expert said. (iStock)

“This means we’re seeing just the tip of the iceberg, and many people aren’t getting the help they need,” he said. 

The study also shows that co-occurring conditions with ADHD are “not an exception, but a norm.”

Life expectancy was shortened by up to 9 years for men and up to 11 years for women, the study found.

Ramtekkar added, “While not surprising, the findings indicate higher rates of co-occurring mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression and suicide risk, as well as physical health conditions like cardiovascular disorders in adults with ADHD.”

The doctor reiterated that the study points to several lifestyle factors contributing to mortality, such as higher rates of smoking, substance use, poor sleep habits and high-risk behaviors resulting in accidents. 

“This indicates that premature death is not caused by ADHD itself, but rather by the effects of untreated symptoms that are potentially preventable.”

What can be done?

To help reduce ADHD-associated mortality, Stott emphasized the need to provide healthcare systems and interventions that are adapted for people with ADHD and other neurodiverse people, which could require special training and research.

“Doing this could provide an environment where people with ADHD are better able to access support,” he told Fox News Digital. “Research is needed to investigate barriers to care experienced by adults with ADHD and how we might adapt care.”

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Stott also said it’s important to look beyond healthcare, as lifespan is affected by socioeconomic factors like employment and schooling.

“This indicates that premature death is not caused by ADHD itself, but rather by the effects of untreated symptoms.”

“We need to think about how we develop schools and employment that are ADHD-affirmative,” he advised. 

“This will not only benefit people with ADHD, but society and the economy, too, since people with ADHD are more likely to be creative and are very energetic.”

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Ramtekkar emphasized the need to “fight the stigma” associated with the disorder. 

“ADHD isn’t about having low motivation or being lazy or scatterbrained — it’s a real health condition with real risks,” he said. 

Loved ones should also point out any signs they notice, the doctor advised, which could help with timely diagnosis and treatment. 

“Families can support by creating structure, maintaining consistent daily routines and encouraging regular healthcare visits,” Ramtekkar said. 

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They can also help with accountability for lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking and alcohol use and getting adequate sleep and exercise, he went on.

“The more they support individuals with ADHD, the more we chip away at that life expectancy gap.”

Bill Gates said he believes he would have been diagnosed with autism if he were growing up today.

The Microsoft co-founder and tech billionaire, 69, made the revelation in his upcoming memoir, “Source Code: My Beginnings.”

In an excerpt of the book, which was published in The Wall Street Journal, Gates wrote about how his parents “struggled with their complicated son” during his childhood in Washington State.

“If I were growing up today, I probably would be diagnosed on the autism spectrum,” Gates wrote. 

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“During my childhood, the fact that some people’s brains process information differently from others wasn’t widely understood.”

The term “neurodivergent,” which is widely used today, had not yet been coined while he was growing up, Gates noted. 

“My parents had no guideposts or textbooks to help them grasp why their son became so obsessed with certain projects, missed social cues and could be rude and inappropriate without seeming to notice his effect on others,” he went on.

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Gates wrote about how his parents, Bill and Mary Gates, gave him the “precise blend of support and pressure” he needed to develop his social skills.

“Even with their influence, my social side would be slow to develop, as would my awareness of the impact I can have on other people,” he wrote. “But that has come with age, with experience, with children, and I’m better for it.”

“I wish it had come sooner, even if I wouldn’t trade the brain I was given for anything.”

Signs of autism disorder 

The hallmark signs of autism are challenges with social communication skills and restricted and repetitive behaviors, according to Andy Shih, chief science officer at Autism Speaks in New York City. 

The term “neurodivergent,” which is widely used today, had not yet been coined while he was growing up, Gates noted in the memoir. ( Justin Tallis – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

“This could look like avoidance of eye contact, delayed language development, difficulty understanding other people’s feelings, repeating words or phrases, hand flapping, or having very intense and specific interests,” he told Fox News Digital.

“I wouldn’t trade the brain I was given for anything.”

On the behavioral side, autism spectrum disorder can also manifest as a “rigid reliance on routines, an intense focus on specific topics or sensory sensitivities,” according to Jonathan Alpert, a psychotherapist in New York City. 

Autism is a spectrum, Alpert noted, which means symptoms can vary significantly in type and severity. 

Off the radar

Alpert confirmed that autism “wasn’t on peoples’ radar” as much when Gates was a child as it is today. 

“Autism wasn’t widely recognized or understood decades ago,” he said. “Back then, the diagnostic criteria were much narrower, and awareness was limited even among healthcare professionals.”

The hallmark signs of autism are challenges with social communication skills and restricted and repetitive behaviors, one expert noted. (iStock)

What is now known as the autism spectrum was categorized differently or overlooked entirely, Alpert noted. 

“As a result, many individuals who would meet today’s criteria for autism went undiagnosed.”

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Shih agreed that autism diagnoses were much less common when Gates was growing up in the 50s and 60s. 

“Autism was first described by Leo Kanner in 1943, and while awareness grew slowly in the following decades, it wasn’t until the 80s and 90s that autism spectrum disorder was introduced into the DSM (the diagnostic manual used in the U.S.) and became widely recognized and diagnosed at higher rates,” he told Fox News Digital.

Reasons for rising cases

One in 45 adults in the U.S. are diagnosed with autism, Shih noted — more than ever before.

“Autism prevalence has risen due to increased public and professional awareness of autism, broader diagnostic criteria for autism, improved screening tools like the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT), and standardized screening processes,” he stated. 

“Autism wasn’t widely recognized or understood decades ago,” one psychotherapist said. “Back then, the diagnostic criteria were much narrower, and awareness was limited even among healthcare professionals.” (iStock)

“These factors have led to earlier detection and more diagnoses.”

The growing prevalence of autism is a highly debated topic, Alpert noted. 

“Much of the increase in autism diagnoses can likely be attributed to improved awareness, broader diagnostic criteria and better access to healthcare services,” he told Fox News Digital. 

“Autism wasn’t widely recognized or understood decades ago.”

Other factors, however — such as environmental exposures and genetic predispositions — are also being studied as potential contributors. 

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“While it’s essential to identify and support those with legitimate diagnoses, there’s also concern that over-diagnosis — potentially influenced by societal trends or misinterpretations by less experienced therapists — can trivialize the condition and undermine those truly in need of support,” Alpert cautioned.

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Despite the growth in diagnoses, there are still missed diagnoses, Shih noted.

The expert said, “While society is much more aware of autism today than ever before thanks to improved public health outreach and increased screening, advocacy and awareness efforts, there are still likely many adults with autism who never received a diagnosis or were misdiagnosed.”

Bill Gates’ memoir, “Source Code: My Beginnings,” will be published on Feb. 4 by Knopf.