The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) yesterday announced the end of a large measles outbreak in the southwestern part of the state, after two incubation periods passed with no new cases.
The outbreak began in January and initially had links to the West Texas outbreak. The state confirmed 87 illnesses linked to the outbreak, 80% of them in children and 90% in people who were not vaccinated. Eight patients were hospitalized.Â
State health officials thanked public health, medical, and lab workers who they said worked tirelessly through the outbreak, and they urged the public to keep their guard up against the measles, given multiple ongoing outbreaks in North America.Â
Wisconsin outbreak grows, Pennsylvania warns of exposures
Elsewhere, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and Oconto County Public Health have identified five more measles infections linked to nine earlier cases reported from Oconto County in early August, bringing the total to 14.Â
Officials said the ongoing investigation indicates that measles is spreading locally. Oconto County is located in northeastern Wisconsin and is part of the Green Bay area.
In other measles developments, the Pennsylvania Department of Health yesterday issued an alert about potential measles exposures in four counties after an out-of-state traveler visited the state while contagious. The exposures occurred in Adams, Clearfield, Lancaster, and York counties. Locations included two Mennonite facilities, along with a travel center, a restaurant, and an entertainment venue.
