Measles

The state’s Infectious Disease Dashboard is updated on Wednesdays, and cases rose from two last week to five.

These are the first measles cases reported in Kansas since an outbreak of 91 cases in 2025. The individuals were exposed to measles while traveling within the United States, outside of Kansas.

New federal data shows 92.4% of U.S. kindergarteners received the required measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine during the last school year. That's below the 95% vaccination level generally considered necessary to help prevent outbreaks.

Public health officials said some parents are confused about what vaccines are required to attend Texas schools amid efforts to change recommendations.

Despite the spike in demand for measles shots following the deadly 2025 outbreak, exemptions on all vaccines for schoolchildren rose after the release of a downloadable exemption form.

Most of the state's measles cases reported so far this year are inside the West Texas Detention Facility in Hudspeth County, where four infected El Paso residents worked.

Local officials report that 108 of the cases originated in a contracted detention facility in Hudspeth County.

This is the first confirmed measles case in Kansas City since 2018. Although measles is one of the most contagious diseases, experts say there's a clear way to avoid it: vaccination.

Months after public health officials say they caused the nation’s largest measles surge in 30 years, some West Texas Mennonites have grown more skeptical of the mainstream medical system.

Emails show how overwhelmed West Texas officials were as they asked CDC for guidance on how to respond to the explosive outbreak.