Measles Exposure Confirmed at KCI, North Kansas City Hospital

Posted January 17, 2024

Clay County health officials issued an exposure warning following an active measles case at North Kansas City Hospital.

The Clay County Public Health Center was notified of a confirmed case of measles from a resident who was at the Kansas City International Airport on Thursday, January 4 and North Kansas City Hospital from January 5–6, the exposure warning reads.

Potential measles exposures include:

• Anyone in Terminal B, general concourse or baggage claim on the evening
  of January 4, 6:15 pm – 9:00 pm. Health officials are contacting potentially
  exposed passengers of the specific flight
• North Kansas City Hospital Emergency Department waiting area/patient
  processing/observation on 1/5/24 from 8:26 am to 4:15 pm
• North Kansas City Hospital 2nd Floor Admission Unit on 1/5/24 from 2:15
  to 8:30 pm
• North Kansas City Hospital 8th Floor Pavilion Medical & Surgical Patient
  Unit on 1/5/24 from 6:30 pm to 1/6/24 8:30 pm

Symptoms of measles include a high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. Three to five days after symptoms begin, a rash starts to appear first on the face and progresses down the body.

Health officials are urging those who show symptoms to stay at home unless they are seeking medical care. They should call ahead and let the provider know of the measles exposure before visiting a healthcare provider.

Those with an up to date Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine are at very low risk, however, non-vaccinated individuals or infants under the age of 1 who are too young to be vaccinated are at the highest risk

Measles is spread through the air by breathing, coughing or sneezing. Measles can be spread to others from four days before to four days after the rash appears. Measles cannot be spread to others by people who do not have the disease.