By Sherman Smith, Kansas Reflector
TOPEKA — State and county officials say a Stevens County resident has tested positive for measles and that they don’t yet know if the infection is linked to outbreaks elsewhere in the country.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment and Stevens County Health Department reported the infection Thursday. A KDHE news release said the agencies are notifying individuals who may have been exposed.
The case is the first reported in Kansas since 2018, according to the KDHE news release. Rare cases in Kansas usually are associated with international travel.
Measles outbreaks have been reported in Texas, New Mexico and New Jersey in recent weeks, and at least one case in a dozen other states, the New York Times reported. Many of the 250 cases in West Texas and New Mexico involve unvaccinated children.
KDHE’s news release said symptoms of the respiratory disease typically develop 10-14 days after exposure and include fever; runny nose; cough; and red, watery eyes — followed by a red rash on the face that spreads to the rest of the body. The highly contagious virus is spread through breathing, coughing and sneezing during an eight-day window that starts four days before a rash develops.
The best way to prevent measles is to get the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. Adults are protected, the KDHE news release said, if they have had at least one dose of the MMR vaccine.
This article was republished with permission from the Kansas Reflector. The Kansas Reflector is a non-profit online news organization serving Kansas. For more information on the organization, go to its website at www.kansasreflector.com.
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