ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
The measles outbreak in Southwest Kansas continues to be a hot topic and last Tuesday, Gov. Laura Kelly paid a visit to Garden City for a press conference to encourage parents to vaccinate their children against the illness.
“I'm here today, and I'm sure you all are too, for one reason, and one reason only – to protect our children,” Gov. Kelly said. “On March 13, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) reported a positive case of measles in Kansas, the first case of measles reported in Kansas since 2008. As of April 22, there are 37 confined cases in Kansas, all of them in the southwestern region. This measles outbreak is serious and it reminds us how the health of our community, especially our children, depends on all of us to recognize our collective responsibility to each other. When I was growing up, measles wasn't something you just read about, it was a disease you actually got, and/or your friends got, and it made people incredibly sick. Some were hospitalized, some were left with permanent complications, and some ultimately didn't make it. Measles spreads through our classrooms, our recreation centers, and grocery stores. It lingers in the air and can cause real harm. No parent wants to see their child in the hospital over something we know how to prevent. Measles is not new, and neither is the solution. We have beaten this disease before through common sense and prevention. For decades, measles nearly disappeared, and now it's back. Not because science has changed, but because misinformation got in the way.”
Kansas has shown leadership in public health before, and Gov. Kelly said Kansans need to do so again.
“In 1955, when the polio vaccine became available, the first town in the U.S. to line up and get the vaccine was Protection, Kansas. Those families trusted science, trusted one another, and they took action to keep their children and their neighbors safe,” Gov. Kelly said. “They didn't ask who the president was, or who got credit, they just wanted to protect their children and neighbors. We need that same kind of response now – at the kitchen table, at doctors' offices, and in our schools. Let's be clear – the measles vaccine works, and it is very safe. One dose is 93 percent effective, and two doses is 97 percent effective. Yet, too many Kansas children are still unprotected – in some areas, vaccination rates have dropped below 90 percent, and that's why there is the outbreak we're seeing today.”
Gov. Kelly then gave a direct statement to Kansas parents and guardians.
“I want to speak directly to the moms and dads, the grandparents and caregivers making decisions for their families who might have some questions about the vaccine and want to be cautious and do right by your children. Those are normal concerns, but you do NOT have to do this alone. Talk to your doctor, ask questions, get the facts, and then make a plan. The facts are simple – measles spreads very quickly, and this disease is very dangerous for young children and those with compromised immune systems. You can prevent that with two doses of the MMR vaccine. This is NOT political. This is NOT about ideology. It's about protecting the children in your carpool, at your kitchen table, and in your community. We ALL want our children to be safe, and we want them in school learning and growing, and surrounded by adults who are doing what it takes to keep them safe and healthy. Kansas families have always taken this seriously. We were the first state to respond to the polio crisis and one of the first states to require back-to-school vaccinations, and we have always made our children's health a high priority. That commitment is part of what has made Kansas so strong.”
In recent years, however, Gov. Kelly said, that strength has decreased.
“In recent years, the Kansas Legislature has chipped away at the public health tools communities rely on. They've made it harder for schools and local health departments to act quickly when outbreaks occur. We need those tools back,” Gov. Kelly said. “Even without them, however, we're not powerless. Parents still have the most powerful tool of all – prevention. So now, I'm asking Kansas families to do what Kansans have always done – put your children first. Talk to your doctor(s), and get your child(ren) vaccinated. We've done this before, let's do it again and protect Kansas children.”
KDHE Dr. Dereck Totten also spoke at the press conference.
“This outbreak continues to grow, and will mostly affect those who are unvaccinated. As of April 22, there are 37 cases in eight counties in the southwest part of the state – Finney, Ford, Grant, Gray, and Morton counties each have fewer than five cases. Haskell County has reported the most cases, with eight, Stevens County has reported seven, and Kiowa County has reported six,” Totten said. “At least 30 of these cases are unvaccinated individuals. The vaccine is absolutely our best defense against this outbreak. Measles is very dangerous and can cause severe health issues such as brain swelling and other long-term complications. Children under 5 years old are especially at risk for severe adverse reactions as well as adults over the age of 20, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems. Normally, the recommendation is to get the first dose between 12 and 15 months of age and the second dose given somewhere between 4 and 6 years old. However, with this outbreak, we're recommending an early extra does for infants 6 months old in any of the affected counties and their surrounding counties. Adults who have not been vaccinated can get both doses as long as they are 28 days apart. If you're unsure of your vaccination status, contact your health provider as soon as you can.”
Totten then shared some symptoms to be on the lookout for.
“The first symptoms happen seven to 14 days after exposure. Measles typically begins with a high fever, possibly spiking to more than 104, a cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes,” Totten said. “Tiny white spots may appear inside the mouth two to three days after the symptoms begin. The measles rash appears three to five days after symptoms begin. Flat red spots appear on the face at the hairline and spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. We recommend staying home from work, school and other public spaces if you are sick. We will continue to work with local health departments throughout the state and other government entities and healthcare providers to ensure these cases are properly monitored and taken care of. We're also working to ensure testing supplies and other necessities are available so people can have those.”
