Sedgwick County confirms measles case in unvaccinated child. It’s the first since 2017
Sedgwick County health officials have confirmed the area’s first case of measles in eight years, officials announced Wednesday morning.
The virus was identified in a child between the ages of 5 and 10 who is unvaccinated, a press release said. The health department is working to identify the source of exposure, and said the agency would notify those who may have been exposed.
Anyone who visited the Carnicerías El Güero grocery store No. 1 at 524 W 21st St. N. in Wichita April 29 from 6:30 to 10 p.m. may have been exposed to the virus, health department officials said in a news conference Wednesday afternoon. Anyone who was there in that time frame is being asked to watch for symptoms and to contact the health department if they develop.
“We urge residents to review their vaccination status and consult their healthcare provider if they have symptoms such as fever, cough or rash,” health department director Adrienne Byrne said in the press release.
Measles is a highly contagious virus spread through the air. An infected individual usually won’t see symptoms until about 10 to 14 days after exposure, according to Mayo Clinic, and they are contagious four days before and after symptoms begin and end.
Measles symptoms include a fever, cough, sore throat and a runny nose, as well as a rash that begins on the face and moves to the neck, chest and back. It can also reach the arms and legs.
Historically during an outbreak, 1 in 5 people who contract the virus need hospital care, Byrne said in an April interview with The Eagle. In severe cases, people with measles can eventually develop pneumonia.
The Sedgwick County case joins the other 46 confirmed measles cases in Kansas, a number last updated April 30, according to a Kansas Department of Health and Environment dashboard. There was a total of 935 confirmed measles cases nationwide as of May 1, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The last measles case reported in the county was in 2017.
“Measles remains one of the most contagious diseases, with the potential for serious complications,” Byrne said in the press release. “The best way to prevent measles is by getting vaccinated. Protect children by making sure they have the MMR vaccine.”
The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is 97% effective at protecting individuals from contracting measles. During an outbreak, children as young as 6 months living in the area can get the first dose of the vaccine.
This story was originally published May 7, 2025 at 10:26 AM.
