Serine
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has updated its measles outbreak data, resulting in a change in the number of affected counties.
Although the total number of measles cases remains unchanged, the number of counties with reported infections has increased to 13.
This adjustment follows the correction of two previously misreported cases. Originally listed under Haskell County, these two cases were in fact located in Seward County.
As a result, Haskell County’s case total has dropped to 19, while Seward County is now considered one of the affected counties — though it currently has no active cases.
Statewide Case Count Reaches 90 in 2025
As of now, Kansas has confirmed 90 measles cases this year, representing an infection rate of 3.09 per 100,000 residents. The majority of these cases are concentrated in southwest Kansas, particularly in the following counties:
- Gray County: 29 cases
- Haskell County: 19 cases
- Stevens County: 10 cases
- 10 other counties each report between 1 to 5 cases
Young Children Continue to Be Most Vulnerable
The current outbreak has disproportionately affected children under the age of five, who account for 38 confirmed cases — the highest among all age groups. Additionally, children aged 5 to 10 make up another 21 cases.
Demographics: Majority of Cases Among White, Non-Hispanic Residents
The breakdown of cases by race and ethnicity shows a significant skew:
- White (non-Hispanic): 90 cases (3.6 per 100,000)
- Hispanic: 7 cases (1.9 per 100,000)
- Black, Asian, and Native American: 0 reported cases
This demographic trend continues to highlight which communities have been most impacted by the measles outbreak in Kansas.
Public Health Officials Urge Vaccination Awareness
State health authorities are emphasizing the importance of checking MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccination status. Residents are encouraged to confirm their immunization records to help prevent further spread of the disease.
While Kansas has not seen an increase in the overall number of measles cases, the number of counties affected by the outbreak has grown due to corrections in geographic reporting.
With young children being the most at risk and the vast majority of cases concentrated among white, non-Hispanic residents, public health officials continue to advocate for widespread MMR vaccination checks. Ongoing monitoring and community cooperation remain critical to containing the outbreak.