Measles cases in the US at 33-year high. You can track cases across Kansas here
Measles cases in the U.S. are at a 33-year high, and while Kansas has recently seen a decline in new outbreaks, 90 cases have been confirmed across the state this year.
The state still has several active cases, including two reported two weeks ago.
As of July 21, Sedgwick County does not have any active measles cases, but the county health department is still reiterating the importance of vaccinations following several earlier this summer. Officials confirmed two cases in the county this year, with an additional exposure in someone who was not a resident.
Both confirmed cases have expired, meaning anyone who had been exposed no longer needs to monitor for symptoms. The latest known exposure at Wesley Medical Center in a nonresident occurred early July and will expire Thursday, July 24.
“So that means, if we get a case at the very end of July, it won’t be related to a current case [in the county],” Sedgwick County Health Department Director Adrienne Byrne told The Eagle in a phone interview.
Even with no known cases and exposures, Byrne said it’s still important to take precautions, especially with back-to-school season just around the corner. Both of the county’s confirmed measles cases were in unvaccinated children.
“It’s important for there to be 95% vaccination rate to really have the protection in our community that’s needed when it comes to measles,” Byrne said.
But the state isn’t reaching that vaccination threshold. For the 2023-24 school year, Byrne said 90% of Kansas kindergartners were vaccinated against measles. In 2022-23, 94% had the vaccine.
“We are below that [95%] level, which is one of the reasons that we’ve had cases,” Byrne said.
The 90 Kansas cases are part of the 1,309 cases nationwide this year. Ninety two percent of the country’s cases were in unvaccinated or unknown individuals, 4% had received one dose of the vaccine and only 4% were fully vaccinated, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s dashboard.
There have been 3 confirmed measles deaths in the U.S. in 2025.
Measles symptoms usually show up seven to 14 days after exposure to the virus, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Early symptoms are usually a fever, cough, red eyes and runny nose. A few days later, an infected individual may notice small white dots inside their mouth. About two weeks after exposure, a rash usually appears on the face or neck and eventually spreads down the person’s chest, arm and legs.
Where have measles cases been confirmed in Kansas in 2025?
Gray County has seen the most measles cases this year, with 29 cases reported. Haskell County is just behind, with 21 cases confirmed this year, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
KDHE does not report an exact number of cases if the number is fewer than six. Here are the other counties that had confirmed measles cases this year, from KDHE’s dashboard:
- Finney County: 1 to 5 cases
- Ford County: 1 to 5 cases
- Grant County: 1 to 5 cases
- Kiowa County: 6 cases
- Morton County: 1 to 5 cases
- Pawnee County: 7 cases
- Reno County: 1 to 5 cases
- Stevens County: 10 cases
While Sedgwick County was experiencing an outbreak when the first case was confirmed in May, the definition of an outbreak has since been changed, Byrne said.
Now, an area is not considered to be experiencing an outbreak unless it has at least three confirmed cases.
“So we really weren’t [at outbreak] numbers, but two cases were ... more than we wanted to have obviously,” Byrne said of the spring. “Most of the people that they were around were vaccinated, so we have not had more than those two cases.”
What should I know about the measles vaccine?
A child should receive the first dose of the measles, mumps and rubella shot that protects against measles at 12 to 15 months of age and the second dose at 4 to 6 years old, according to the CDC. Both doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective against the measles virus, while only one dose is 93% effective.
“Even though the cases seem to be slowing, the need to be up to date on the MMR vaccine is as important as it always has been. It does not reduce the importance,” Byrne said.
Side effects to the vaccine rarely happen and are usually very mild, the CDC says. Some people may experience soreness or redness around the injection site, a fever, a mild rash or joint pain and stiffness.
Anyone born before 1957 is considered immune to the virus, because they’ve most likely either had it before or have been exposed, and do not need to receive the vaccination.
While anyone can call the Sedgwick County Health Department at anytime to schedule a vaccination appointment, there will be several free vaccine clinics for school-aged children over the next few months.
These walk-in clinics are open to all area students, regardless of if they have insurance or not. For those who are insured, the county asks they bring their insurance card, but there will be no out-of-pocket fees for patients.
Here’s that information:
- 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 26 at Valley Center High in partnership with Hope Wichita
- 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23 at 903 S. Edgemoor
- 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27th at 903 S. Edgemoor
- 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17 and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18 at 903 S. Edgemoor
If someone believes they are experiencing measles symptoms, the county’s measles reporting line is 316-660-5558.
