Measles Cases Climb to 88 in Kansas, Young Children in Southwest Hit Hardest

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Kansas health officials have confirmed 88 measles cases so far this year, with the majority affecting young children in southwest Kansas.

According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), the statewide measles rate has reached 3.02 cases per 100,000 people. Children ages 0–4 are the most affected, with a rate of 24.3 per 100,000—more than twice that of any other age group.

Gray and Haskell counties remain the outbreak’s epicenter, reporting 29 and 20 cases, respectively. Stevens County has reported nine cases, Pawnee County seven, and several other counties—Ford, Grant, Kiowa, and Morton—have also been affected.

Health officials say the virus is still spreading in parts of the state and are urging families to review their vaccination records. Measles is highly contagious but preventable with the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine.

KDHE encourages anyone unvaccinated or behind on their shots to contact a health care provider about getting vaccinated.

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