Nearly 20 new measles cases confirmed in Kansas amid outbreak; no new cases in Missouri
As of Wednesday, May 14, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is reporting 56 confirmed cases of measles across the state; 54 cases are associated with an ongoing outbreak in southwest Kansas.
The US has 1,001 measles cases and 11 states with active outbreaks
As of April 23, there were 37 cases in the state. Three weeks later, there are nearly 20 new cases of measles in Kansas.
'Most cases continue to present among unvaccinated children,' the KDHE said on its website.
'Due to the highly contagious nature of measles, additional cases are likely to occur in the outbreak area in Kansas and in surrounding counties, especially among those that are unvaccinated. As summer travel season begins, we will likely see additional imported cases among Kansans travelling within the United States and internationally.'
Measles cases have been confirmed in 10 Kansas counties:
Finney
Ford
Grant
Gray
Haskell
Kiowa
Morton
Reno
Sedgwick
Stevens
Gray County has 21 measles cases – the highest number of cases in the state. Haskell and Stevens counties are next in line, with 8 and 7 cases, respectively.
For more information and the latest updates, click here.
In Missouri, there are two confirmed cases of measles.
FOX4 reached out to state health officials who confirmed that there have been no new measles cases in Missouri.
The state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) announced its second confirmed case one week ago after an adult was diagnosed with measles in New Madrid County.
'There is no indication of widespread public exposure,' the DHSS said in its news release. 'Exposure is believed to be limited, and known contacts are being identified and contacted.'
Missouri has second confirmed measles case, health officials say
Missouri is not one of the 11 states with active outbreaks. Kansas, however, is in the midst of an outbreak.
The department said the case in New Madrid County is not linked to the prior case or prior exposures reported in Missouri.
A DHSS spokesperson confirmed that there are only two measles cases in Missouri – not to be confused with an out-of-state case in Illinois.
However, the Illinois resident may have exposed others in Missouri after visiting the St. Louis Aquarium on Wednesday, April 30, as well as a nearby restaurant, according to St. Louis officials.
Stay with FOX4 for the latest updates on this and other breaking news.
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