Kansas Health Officials Confirm 7 Measles Cases

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment (Johnson County) issued a press release regarding seven (7) confirmed cases of measles.

According to KSHE, six of these measles cases are related to a daycare facility in Johnson County, Kansas.

Six Johnson County residents associated with the daycare and one Miami County resident not associated with the daycare have been identified.

To date, KDHE and Johnson County have been able to identify where and when each case became infected.

But, KDHE said secondary cases are now appearing outside of the daycare, and they are concerned that some individuals in the general population may have potentially been exposed to persons with measles while they were infectious.

Which means, if you have visited one or more of these locations on the dates and times listed you may have been exposed to measles:

• Aldi’s; 15290 W. 119th St Olathe, KS 66062; on March 2nd from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM,
• Payless Discount Foods; 2101 E. Santa Fe St, Olathe, KS; on March 6th from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM,
• El Potro Mexican Café; 602 N Pearl St, Paola, KS on March 7th from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM,
• Children’s Mercy Hospital Kansas; 5808 W 110th St, Overland Park, KS on March 8th and March 10th in the morning,
• Budget Coin Laundry; 798 E Main St, Gardner, KS; on March 9th from 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM,
• Olathe YMCA swimming pool and locker room; 21400 W. 153rd St, Olathe, KS; on March 10th from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM,
• Bath and Body Works at Legends Outlets; 1803 Village W Pkwy, Kansas City, KS; on March 10th from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM,
• Crazy 8 at Legends Outlets; 1843 Village W Pkwy, Kansas City, KS; on March 10th after 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM,
• Orange Leaf; 11524 W 135th St Overland Park, KS; on March 10th from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

“Measles is spread through the air by breathing, coughing or sneezing,” said KDHE Chief Health Officer, Dr. Greg Lakin.

"It is so contagious that any person who is exposed to it and is not immune will likely contract the disease. Measles can be spread to others from four days before to four days after the rash appears.”

If you have had measles or have been vaccinated, your risk of contracting the disease is extremely low.

Measles starts with fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, and sore throat. It’s followed by a rash that spreads over the body, says the CDC. 

The average number of days between when a person is exposed to measles, and when they first start showing symptoms is approximately 10 to 14 days (range of 7 to 21 days).

KDHE urges people who are ill or exhibiting measles-like symptoms to stay at home unless they are seeking medical care. Before visiting a healthcare provider, call ahead and notify the provider to take measures to protect other patients and staff.

The best way to prevent measles is to get the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine, said KDHE.

Vaccination with at least two doses remains the most effective measure to prevent the further spread of measles.

In the USA, two approved measles vaccines are available, MMR-II and ProQuad.

The CDC Vaccine Price List provides the private sector vaccine prices for general information, and vaccine discounts can be found here.

Most pediatricians and pharmacies offer the MMR vaccine.

Vaccines, like any medicine, can have side effects, says the CDC. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of vaccines to the FDA or CDC.

The Kansas measles outbreak appears to be unrelated to the March 15, 2018, measles alert issued to travelers in three airports related to potential measles contaminations.

For questions call the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment at 913-477-8343 or the KDHE Epidemiology hotline at 877-427-7317.