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The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Pawnee County Health Department have confirmed a case of measles in a Pawnee County resident, according to a KDHE news release.

It’s currently unclear whether this case is linked to the ongoing measles outbreak in Southwest Kansas. Health officials are working to identify and notify individuals who may have been exposed.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory illness that spreads through coughing, sneezing, or talking. People who are unvaccinated or lack immunity are most at risk. Early symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. A rash usually appears 3–5 days later, starting on the face and spreading downward.

Those who think they’ve been exposed should check their immunity status. Individuals are considered protected if they’ve had two doses of a measles-containing vaccine (such as MMR), previously had measles, or have lab-confirmed immunity.

Unvaccinated individuals are at higher risk of infection.

While two doses of the MMR vaccine are highly effective, about 3 in 100 vaccinated people can still get measles if exposed to someone who is infected.