Child attending KC-area elementary school has measles, health department says
.JPG "Children across the country have missed vaccinations during the pandemic. Now pediatricians worry about outbreaks of measles, whooping cough and other vaccine-preventable diseases this fall.")
A Kansas City child who attends an area elementary school has measles.
The Clay County Public Health Center said Wednesday that the child attends Warren Hills Elementary School in Liberty, Mo. The Center does not believe any students, parents, staff or guests at the school were exposed.
The new case, along with a second new case, brings the Kansas City total to four, according to reports.
Symptoms of measles typically begin about one to two weeks after exposure and include: fever, blotchy rash, cough, runny nose and tiny white spots with bluish-white centers inside the mouth.
Those most at risk of infection are: infants and children under 5, adults over 20, pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems.
The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is 93 percent effective at preventing measles, and adding a booster increases the effectiveness to 97 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Clay County Public Health Center urged anyone exhibiting measles-like symptoms to stay home unless they are seeking medical care. Those who believe they are infected are encouraged to call a health care provider ahead of time so steps can be taken to prevent the spread of measles.
Last week, the first Kansas City measles case led officials to identify six risk sites.
A measles outbreak that began in a Kansas day care has grown to 16 cases, including 13 in Johnson County.
The Kansas City Health Department will release more information about the new Kansas City cases on Thursday, according to Fox 4 News.
This story was originally published April 18, 2018 at 10:19 PM with the headline "Child attending KC-area elementary school has measles, health department says."