Sedgwick County confirms first measles case, alerts public to location of possible exposure
WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - The Sedgwick County Health Department (SCHD) released more information Wednesday regarding the county’s first measles case. The SCHD confirmed the patient is an unvaccinated child between the ages of 5 and 10 years old who was exposed during travel out of the county. This is the first measles case identified in Sedgwick County since 2017.
The health department said anyone who visited Carnicerías El Güero No. 1, 524 W. 21st Street North in Wichita, on Tuesday, April 29, between 6:30 p.m. and 10 p.m., may have been exposed to the measles case.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) said there are now 48 confirmed measles cases in the state. KDHE said Sedgwick County was not included in the updated numbers because the case has yet to be linked to the outbreak in southwest Kansas.
GraceMed CEO Dr. Julie Elder said as measles spread through Western Kansas, she and her staff started preparing for when it would get to Sedgwick County.
“Well, we really anticipated that measles would get here. We’ve seen it in different states throughout the US, we’ve seen it in different counties throughout Kansas, even, so we figured, like a typical virus, it’ll spread,” Dr. Elder said.
She advised that while measles symptoms may be difficult to distinguish from other ailments like a cold or flu, measles quickly makes itself known.
“Sometimes those symptoms are so similar to a cold or flu-like symptoms. With measles, often a couple days after those types of symptoms develop, a person will develop a sore throat with some spots in it, and then a rash that starts typically around the hairline and the face and then comes down toward the trunk,” Dr. Elder said.
Dr. Elder and Sedgwick County Health Department Director Adrienne Byrne said the best way to protect yourself and your family against measles is to get vaccinated.
“Measles remains one of the most contagious diseases, with the potential for serious complications. The best way to prevent measles is by getting vaccinated. Protect children by making sure they have the MMR vaccine.” Byrne said. “We are working swiftly to identify the source of exposure and notify anyone who may have been exposed. We urge residents to review their vaccination status and consult their healthcare provider if they have symptoms such as fever, cough or rash.”
Keep in mind this measles vaccination guidance:
- People who are at risk for measles infection are those who have not been vaccinated.
- Babies 6 to 11 months old in Sedgwick County can now receive the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine ahead of schedule per KDHE. Children should then follow the recommended vaccination schedule as they get older.
- If you were born before 1957 or have been vaccinated with the MMR, you are unlikely to get measles. See MMR vaccine recommendations here: https://schd.online/MMR-recommendations.
- If you have not been vaccinated or are unsure, CALL your healthcare provider or the Sedgwick County Health Department at 316-660-7300.
Symptoms typically appear 7-14 days after contact with the virus. Common measles symptoms include:
- High fever (may spike to more than 104°F)
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Red, watery eyes
- Tiny white spots with bluish-white centers found inside the mouth (Koplik spots)
- Blotchy rash on the skin which spreads from head down to feet
Anyone with measles symptoms should call their healthcare provider before visiting to avoid spreading the virus.
For more information on measles, please visit:
- Sedgwick County Health Department: https://schd.online/measles
- Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE): https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/1501/Measles
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/measles/
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