Five more measles cases were reported in Kansas over the past week, bringing the total to 37 in what state health officials are calling an outbreak. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment confirmed the cases are all in eight counties in southwest Kansas: Finney, Ford, Grant, Gray, Haskell, Kiowa, Morton, and Stevens. One person has been hospitalized.

As of last week, 32 cases had been reported—all in the same region. The age breakdown is: 11 cases in children under 5, 19 in ages 5–17, and seven in adults. Vaccination data shows four people were fully vaccinated, one was partially vaccinated, 30 were unvaccinated, and two had unknown vaccination status.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus that spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. Early symptoms include a high fever, runny nose, cough, and red, watery eyes, followed by a red rash that starts on the face and spreads.

Health officials urge anyone exposed or showing symptoms to isolate. The best protection, they say, is the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine.