The Sedgwick County Health Department has contacted Student Health Services about a Wichita State student who has a case of measles. The student, who is taking classes this summer, does not live on campus. The student had not received an MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella.
Following health department guidelines, Student Health is notifying faculty, staff and students who may have been exposed to this individual.
Multiple cases of measles have been reported recently in Sedgwick County, but only one case involves a WSU student.
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 (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccines as a child, so if you were vaccinated, you are unlikely to get measles. If you haven’t been vaccinated against measles, it’s not too late. Check with your physician’s office or Student Health Services about getting an MMR.
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.
For more information about measles, visit the Kansas Department of Health and Environment measles page at http://www.kdheks.gov/epi/measles.htm, or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention measles page at http://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/index.html.
