KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas Department of Health and Environment said Wednesday the measles outbreak has been declared over.
According to a news release from the department, 22 people in three counties were affected in the largest Kansas outbreak in nearly 30 years.
The declaration comes about three months after the initial outbreak at a Johnson County, Kansas, day care. People in Linn and Miami counties were also affected.
KDHE officials said the outbreak was officially over on May 28, after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had provided final test results.
In addition to the CDC results, no further cases have been identified, and two incubation periods, totaling 42 days, have passed.
“We are happy and relieved that this outbreak has concluded,” said KDHE State Epidemiologist Dr. Farah Ahmed in the news release. “Because of the unfortunate circumstance of this starting in a day care environment where many children were too young to be vaccinated, we and local health departments were challenged to track those infected and make sure the public took appropriate precautions.”
Ahmed also said most people followed the department’s recommendations and so they were able to contain the outbreak “without major health complications.”
KDHE emphasized in the release that the best way to prevent measles, and other diseases, is through vaccination.
For information on how to receive a free vaccine through the federally-funded Vaccines for Children program, click here.
Adults can use the HealthMap Vaccine Finder to locate a place to get vaccinated.
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