Jackson County confirms measles case

JACKSON COUNTY, Mo. (KQTV) -- Jackson County Public Health (JCPH) has confirmed one case of measles in an Eastern Jackson County resident.

JCPH said the individual was vaccinated and will remain isolated until no longer infectious. No additional cases have been identified at this time, and JCPH said the risk to the general public is considered low.

The case is being actively investigated, and the individual appears to have been exposed from outside of Jackson County.

JCPH said breakthrough measles cases in vaccinated individuals are rare, but can occur, as no vaccine is 100% effective. Vaccinated individuals who do contract measles typically experience milder illness and are less likely to spread the virus to others.

As part of the investigation, the JCPH determined that the individual visited its clinic twice while infectious last week for unrelated services.

JCPH closed its facility on Monday, Sept. 14, out of caution and to identify staff and clients present during the exposure window and determine individual immunity status. The facility said it will reopen at 8 a.m. Tuesday.

The individual was present at the JCPH building at 3651 NE Ralph Powell Rd in Lee’s Summit
during the following windows:

• Tuesday, Sept. 8, between 8 a.m. – noon
• Thursday, Sept. 10, between noon – 4 p.m.

While infectious, the individual also visited two locations in Johnson County, Kansas, on
Sept. 7:

• Kyoto Sushi and Steak, 6792 W 135th, Overland Park, between noon – 4:30 p.m.
• Pan-Asia Supermarket, 12035 Metcalf, Overland Park, between 2 – 5:30 p.m.

Anyone present at the above locations is considered possibly exposed and is advised to:

• Monitor symptoms for 21 days after exposure and contact your local health department if
  symptoms develop
• If you are unvaccinated, you should isolate for the 21 days. If you have received at least
  one measles vaccine, you are not required to isolate
• If not previously vaccinated and pregnant or immunocompromised contact a
  healthcare provider or the health department immediately. Measles immune
  globulin (IG) can be given within six days of exposure to help prevent or lessen the
  severity of the illness.
• Fill out this survey to determine exposure risks
• Call ahead before visiting a doctor's office or emergency room if symptoms develop, so
  staff can take precautions to prevent further spread
• Contact the JCPH Measles Hotline at 816-404-9889, Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.,
  with questions about exposure, symptoms, or vaccination status
• Johnson County residents can contact the Johnson County Department of Health and
  Environment at 913-826-1303 with questions

“Our top priority right now is making sure anyone who may have been exposed has the
information they need to protect themselves and their families,” said Bridgette Shaffer, Health
Director at Jackson County Public Health. “We are working to identify and contact everyone
who may have been exposed, and we're coordinating closely with our state health department as
this investigation continues.”

JCPH said measles is highly contagious and spreads through the air when an infected person breathes,
coughs, or sneezes. The virus can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infectious person
has left an area.

Symptoms of measles typically appear one to two weeks after exposure and can include:

• High fever
• Cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes
• Koplik’s spots (white dots inside the mouth)
• A rash that usually starts on the face and spreads down the body, appearing 3-5 days after
  initial symptoms

The following groups face added risk of serious complications from measles: children younger
than five (especially infants too young to be vaccinated), pregnant women and people with
weakened immune systems.

Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, but cases continue to occur when
the virus is introduced from outside the community and spreads among unvaccinated or under-vaccinated populations.

While international travel remains a common source, ongoing outbreaks show the virus can also spread domestically between states and communities.