TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and local health departments continue to respond to measles cases in Kansas. KDHE is notifying the public of a possible measles exposure so that the public may take the appropriate steps to protect their health and limit the spread of measles. The risk of exposure to measles is limited only to the location, date, and times below.
- Location: Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, 2277 Eisenhower Airport Pkwy, Wichita on Friday, May 2, 2025, from 6:15 p.m. until 9 p.m.
- Hutchinson Public Library, 901 N Main St, Hutchinson, KS 67501 on Saturday, May 3, 2025, from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m.
The measles virus can stay in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours. Because the measles virus is highly contagious, anyone who was inside Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport on the evening of May 2 from 6:15 pm - 9:00 pm, may have been exposed to measles and should take the following steps:
- Understand if you are susceptible to infection. Check if you’ve received a measles-containing vaccine, like the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, have medical documentation of past measles infection, or have laboratory evidence of immunity. People who are not vaccinated and have not previously had measles are especially vulnerable to becoming infected. People born before 1957, or have had measles disease in the past, or have had at least one MMR dose are considered immune.
- Watch for symptoms. Monitor yourself for 21 days after your exposure. Look out for any symptoms—especially a fever and a new or unexplained skin rash—and contact your healthcare provider or local health department if symptoms develop.
- If you were at the Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport on the evening of May 2, watch for symptoms of measles up until the end of Friday, May 23.
- Avoid high-risk settings. If you are not immune, consider staying home to prevent the spread of measles. If you cannot remain home, stay away from large gatherings and people that might be susceptible to measles, including those who are unvaccinated, pregnant women, infants, or people who are immunocompromised. If you need medical care, call your provider ahead of time and let them know you may have been exposed to measles so they can take any necessary steps to protect others from potential measles exposure.
- Call a healthcare provider. If you have any questions about your health or your immunity status, contact your healthcare provider. If you need to see your healthcare provider or visit an emergency room, please call ahead and notify staff that you may have been exposed to measles. If you are not immune to measles and have symptoms, a healthcare provider can determine whether you need testing and treatment to help prevent or lessen the severity of infection.
Reminder, that this possible measles exposure is limited only to those who were at the airport on Friday, May 2nd from 6:15 pm - 9:00 pm.
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus. It spreads easily when an infected person talks, sneezes or coughs. People who are not vaccinated or lack immunity are especially at risk of becoming infected. Symptoms of measles typically begin with a high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. Three to five days after symptoms begin, a skin rash develops and usually starts on the face and spreads down to the neck, trunk, arms and legs.
The best way to prevent measles is to get the MMR vaccine. If you have had measles or have been vaccinated, your risk of contracting the disease is very low. However, a few people (about three out of 100) can still get measles even after two MMR vaccine doses if they are near someone who is sick.
For questions, contact the KDHE Epidemiology Hotline by phone at 877-427-7317 (option 5) or by email at [email protected].
For more information about measles, how to find your vaccine records, and answers to common questions, visit the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Measles Resource Hub at www.kdhe.ks.gov/measles.