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KDHE: SW KS measles outbreak over, threat remains

By Brian Hagen

08/21/2025

(MSC News)--The measles outbreak affecting southwest Kansas has officially ended, and that means a return to regular vaccinations for children in that part of the state.

That announcement was made Thursday by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, with the release explaining that "two full incubation periods, for a total of 42 days, have passed since the last confirmed case was reported," with the agency adding that because there is no longer an active outbreak in southwest Kansas, KDHE is no longer recommending the early measles, mumps and rubella vaccination dose for infants 6-11 months old. Instead, the agency calls for health care providers to return to the regular schedule.

As of Thursday, 87 cases of measles are confirmed in the outbreak, which began in January 2025.

The state health agency notes that more than 80 percent of the cases were children, and over 90 percent of the cases were not vaccinated against measles. Eight people required hospitalization.

The release ends with a note of caution, saying "the end of the recent outbreak does not mean the threat of measles is over," due to "many ongoing outbreaks of measles in North America and around the world," meaning the possibility "that there will be additional cases of measles introduced into Kansas this year" which "KDHE and local health departments will continue to monitor for."

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