No new Kansas measles cases — but will start of school spark new cases, surge?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kansas reports no new measles cases since July; outbreak remains active in 3 counties.
- Health officials urge MMR vaccination as schools reopen and travel increases exposure.
- Majority of Kansas cases involve unvaccinated children; 73 of 90 patients are under 18.
Kansas health officials say measles is still active in the state, but no new cases have been reported since early July.
As families prepare for the end of summer and a return to school, public health leaders are stressing the importance of measles awareness and prevention.
“As people start returning from domestic and international travel, and as children and adults start gathering again in schools, there may be additional exposures to measles,” said Jill Bronaugh, communications director for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
“Healthcare providers, including school nurses, should stay alert to any signs and symptoms of measles.”
Both state and local public health departments are working, like they do at the start of every school year, to make sure routine childhood vaccinations are readily available, Bronaugh said.
Health officials say the best way to prevent measles is to get vaccinated with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Two doses are 97% effective against measles, while one dose is 93% effective.
“Almost everyone without immunity will get measles if exposed to the virus,” Bronaugh said.
Last new cases reported week of July 6
The number of measles cases stands at 90, with the last new cases reported the week of July 6, according to the health department’s 2025 Kansas Measles Case Data dashboard.
All but three of the cases are associated with the outbreak concentrated in the southwestern part of Kansas. There have been eight patients hospitalized, and no deaths connected to the outbreak, health officials said.
Measles cases have been reported in 10 counties in that area: Finney, Ford, Grant, Gray, Haskell, Kiowa, Morton, Pawnee, Seward and Stevens counties.
The number of counties in the outbreak area with an active measles status has dipped to three — Gray, Haskell, and Stevens counties, health officials report. To be removed from active status, two full incubation periods, or 42 days, must pass from the last reported case.
The other seven counties in the outbreak area have a “resolved” status.
“KDHE will continue to communicate with healthcare providers in those areas with counties in active outbreak status about recognizing early measles symptoms and providing free measles testing through the state laboratory,” Bronaugh said.
Cases have also been reported in Reno and Sedgwick counties, but none of those cases are related to the outbreak.
Children, teens account for majority of cases
The vast majority of the cases involve children and teens, with 73 of the total cases affecting those under 18. Among these, 38 are children aged 4 or younger, 21 are between 5 and 10 years old, eight are between 11 and 13, and six are between 14 and 17. Adults make up the remaining 17 cases.
Vaccination status was not available for all cases. But for the cases associated with the southwest Kansas outbreak, only seven patients were fully vaccinated for their age, according to the data. In contrast, 75 had not received the vaccine. One was not vaccinated appropriately for their age, and four could not verify their vaccination status.
As of Wednesday, there have been a total of 1,356 confirmed measles cases reported nationwide, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Measles has been reported in 40 states — Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
