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Multiple Cases Of Measles Discovered in Wichita

Sanofi Pasteur, flickr Creative Commons

UPDATE:

Multiple cases of measles have been reported in Sedgwick County including a student taking summer classes at Wichita State University and four individuals linked to a restaurant in the city. 

According to Wichita State University, the student had not received an MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella.

Following health department guidelines, WSU Student Health is notifying faculty, staff and students who may have been exposed to this individual.

According to Camille Childers, director of Student Health Services at WSU, measles is easily spread when an infected person coughs, sneezes or breathes on someone who has not been vaccinated. Most people get MMR vaccines as a child. Those that did receive a vaccination are unlikely to get measles. 

The Sedgwick County Health Department will hold a free MMR vaccination clinic from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, July 19, at 2716 W. Central in Wichita. No out-of pocket fees will be charged. However, Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance will be filed if available.

Our previous report about a possible source for the measles outbreak is below: 

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment and The Sedgwick County Health Department have confirmed six cases of measles so far this month in Sedgwick County. KMUW’s Carla Eckels reports...

Four cases were confirmed in Sedgwick County last week with two more as of Monday.

Dates of possible exposure at Sal's Japanese Steakhouse: June 20, 23, 25, 29, and July 3, 5, and 7.

One is an employee at Sal’s Japanese Steakhouse in Wichita who may have been exposed in Kansas City. Two other employees at the restaurant have become infected along with an unvaccinated infant who's only known exposure was at Sal's. Health officials say people who dined at the Steakhouse on specific dates between June 20th and July 7th are at risk.

The Sedgwick County Health Department’s Adrienne Byrne-Lutz says if people think they’ve been exposed to measles or are showing symptoms, they should call their health providers first.

"Because if they walk into an emergency room or walk into any doctor's office or our clinic, they are going to expose every single person sitting in that clinic and a baby has no choice to not be vaccinated prior to twelve months of age."

Children don't get their first measles vaccination until 12-15 months. Symptoms include: 

  • Fever
  • Blotchy rash on the skin, which spreads from the head to the trunk then to the lower extremities (Measles can be spread to others from four days before to four days after the rash appears.)
  • Cough
  • Runny nose
  • Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
  • Feeling run down, achy
  • Tiny white spots with bluish-white centers found inside the mouth (Koplik spots)
Sedgwick County Health Director Adrienne Byrne
Credit Carla Eckels
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KMUW/File photo
Adrienne Byrnes-Lutz | Sedgwick County Interim Health Department Director

Due to the concern of transmission to the public, health officials are requesting anyone who dined at Sal’s Japanese Steakhouse, 6829 E. Kellogg Dr. in Wichita, on the following dates: June 20, 23, 25, 29, July 3, 5, and July 7, and later developed an illness with fever and rash, to contact their health care provider.

Healthcare providers who have questions should call the Kansas Department of Health and Environment at 877-427-7317 or the Sedgwick County Health Department at 316-660-7424.

Carla Eckels is Director of Organizational Culture at KMUW. She produces and hosts the R&B and gospel show Soulsations and brings stories of race and culture to The Range with the monthly segment In the Mix. Carla was inducted into The Kansas African American Museum's Trailblazers Hall of Fame in 2020 for her work in broadcast/journalism.