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Coordinated Council approves 12-day extension of state hantavirus emergency to June 7
Summary
The Coordinated Council voted 7-1 to approve Governor Kelly’s request to extend a state disaster emergency related to a hantavirus exposure for 12 days, through June 7, 2026, to complete a 42-day monitoring period for three close contacts; officials said the contacts are asymptomatic and isolating voluntarily.
The Coordinated Council voted 7-1 on May 26, 2026, to approve Governor Kelly’s request for a 12-day extension of a state disaster emergency tied to a hantavirus exposure, extending the declaration through June 7, 2026.
Will Lawrence, the governor’s chief of staff, told the council the original declaration was issued on May 12 after a confirmed hantavirus case. Three people in the state were identified as close contacts, transported to KU Med for monitoring in coordination with the CDC, and later discharged; Lawrence said they remain voluntarily isolating and are asymptomatic. “They are doing well, they're asymptomatic at this point in time and they're staying in contact with us on a daily basis,” Lawrence said.
The extension was framed as a narrowly tailored, 12-day request to reach the 42-day monitoring window the administration says is required for the exposure timeline. Lawrence said the declaration must be in place through June 7 so state and local health authorities can move quickly if conditions change, including transport back to medical care.
A presiding officer questioned whether declaring an emergency for three people who were not sick was appropriate, noting sensitivities from quarantine practices during the COVID pandemic. The presiding officer said, “We got three people none of whom are sick who may have been in contact with somebody who may have been… and we consider that an emergency in the state of Kansas.” Lawrence replied that the three had been in close contact by CDC definition with a symptomatic traveler who later tested positive for hantavirus and died, and that CDC contact tracing prompted coordination with state health authorities.
Majority Leader Croft moved to approve the governor’s request for the 12-day extension; Majority Leader Blazy seconded. The clerk called the roll: Majority Leader Blazy, Aye; Speaker pro tem Carpenter, Aye; Majority Leader Croft, Aye; Speaker Hawkins, Aye; President Masterson, Aye; Vice President Shellenberger, No; Minority Leader Sykes, Aye; Minority Leader Woodard, Aye. The clerk reported seven ayes and one nay; the motion passed.
The council adjourned immediately following the vote.
