Preparing for the possible return of measles

As of this writing, there have been no cases of measles in Sedgwick County this year. But a national outbreak moved into southwest Kansas last month and raised concern about a possible return of the highly contagious disease to Wichita.

To help physicians prepare, MSSC distributed testing and vaccination information compiled by the Sedgwick County Health Department and reviewed by MSSC member and county health officer Garold Minns, MD.

The last time Sedgwick County had a confirmed case of measles was 2017, and before that it was 2014. As a result, many MSSC physicians have never seen a patient with measles.

MSSC member Rick Kellerman, MD, dealt with a measles outbreak in Salina in the 1990s when he was working there. He recommends not bringing patients with suspected measles into the office.

“Try to see them in their car or at home,” he said. “It is very contagious, and bringing the patient in through the back door of the office is not foolproof. One study showed transmission of measles from one end of a doctor’s office to the far end through the ventilation system.”

The Health Department has held MMR vaccina­tion clinics on Saturdays to help increase vaccination rates. In addition to vaccinating children, KDHE rec­ommends those who were vaccinated between 1963 and 1967 receive at least one dose of the current MMR formulation.

Minns said the Health Department can help if providers have any questions or need updated informa­tion. Call (316) 660-7300 or visit https://www.sedgwickcounty.org/health/.