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Reno County Public Health issues update as measles cases rise in Kansas
Summary
Reno County public health officials told the county commission that Kansas is seeing a multi-county measles outbreak and urged vaccination; local kindergarten immunization rates have dropped below herd-immunity levels.
Carla Nichols, director of public health for Reno County, and Karen, the county’s assistant director of clinical services and health official, told commissioners the state is reporting a measles outbreak and that the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is publishing case numbers on a dashboard.
Nichols said KDHE’s dashboard will report cases weekly. Karen said that, as of the weekly snapshot she had available, Kansas recorded 37 measles cases and one hospitalization, and that 30 of those cases involved people who were not vaccinated. She said the outbreak is concentrated in southwest Kansas and includes about eight counties.
The officials described measles as highly contagious and noted it spreads more quickly among unvaccinated people than influenza. Karen said measles typically produces a high fever and a rash that appears about four days after initial symptoms. She reviewed vaccine effectiveness: one dose of MMR about 94 percent effective, two doses about 97 percent, and noted the routine childhood schedule (first dose around age 1, second dose before school).
Officials also said kindergarten immunization-survey data show declines since 2019. Karen cited statewide kindergarten measles vaccination coverage falling from about 94.7 percent in 2019–20 to about 90.21 percent in the most recent survey; Reno County’s kindergarten measles coverage fell from 94.9 percent to about 90.5 percent based on public school reporting.
Reno County Public Health said it is promoting vaccination, offering walk-in immunizations for children and adults, distributing printed flyers, and coordinating with schools and community partners to encourage immunization. Officials said KDHE’s case dashboard and the statewide school immunization reports are publicly available for residents who want up-to-date numbers.
Commissioners thanked the health staff for the update and had no further questions at the close of the presentation.
The county health officials did not ask the commission to take new policy action during the presentation; they asked only that the public be informed and reminded residents how to access vaccines locally.
