Latest news with #DHSS
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Nearly 20 new measles cases confirmed in Kansas amid outbreak; no new cases in Missouri
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A measles outbreak continues to plague Kansans, with more than a dozen new cases across the state. As of Wednesday, May 14, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is reporting 56 confirmed cases of measles across the state; 54 cases are associated with an ongoing outbreak in southwest Kansas. The US has 1,001 measles cases and 11 states with active outbreaks As of April 23, there were 37 cases in the state. Three weeks later, there are nearly 20 new cases of measles in Kansas. 'Most cases continue to present among unvaccinated children,' the KDHE said on its website. 'Due to the highly contagious nature of measles, additional cases are likely to occur in the outbreak area in Kansas and in surrounding counties, especially among those that are unvaccinated. As summer travel season begins, we will likely see additional imported cases among Kansans travelling within the United States and internationally.' Measles cases have been confirmed in 10 Kansas counties: Finney Ford Grant Gray Haskell Kiowa Morton Reno Sedgwick Stevens Gray County has 21 measles cases – the highest number of cases in the state. Haskell and Stevens counties are next in line, with 8 and 7 cases, respectively. For more information and the latest updates, click here. In Missouri, there are two confirmed cases of measles. FOX4 reached out to state health officials who confirmed that there have been no new measles cases in Missouri. The state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) announced its second confirmed case one week ago after an adult was diagnosed with measles in New Madrid County. 'There is no indication of widespread public exposure,' the DHSS said in its news release. 'Exposure is believed to be limited, and known contacts are being identified and contacted.' Missouri has second confirmed measles case, health officials say Missouri is not one of the 11 states with active outbreaks. Kansas, however, is in the midst of an outbreak. The department said the case in New Madrid County is not linked to the prior case or prior exposures reported in Missouri. A DHSS spokesperson confirmed that there are only two measles cases in Missouri – not to be confused with an out-of-state case in Illinois. However, the Illinois resident may have exposed others in Missouri after visiting the St. Louis Aquarium on Wednesday, April 30, as well as a nearby restaurant, according to St. Louis officials. Stay with FOX4 for the latest updates on this and other breaking news. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Third case of measles confirmed in Missouri this year
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has confirmed a case of measles in an adult resident of New Madrid County. Health officials say the risk to the general public is low and there is no indication of widespread exposure. The DHSS is working closely with the New Madrid County Health Department to identify and notify individuals who may have been exposed. Officials stress that this case is not connected to any previous measles cases reported in Missouri this year in Taney County on April 18 and then in St. Louis on April 30. As of May 6, 2025, Texas has reported 702 confirmed measles cases, primarily affecting children and teens. The majority of these cases are concentrated in Gaines County, which alone accounts for over 57% of the total cases. Two young girls have died, and 91 people have been hospitalized in Texas. Health experts attribute the outbreak to a high rate of nonmedical vaccine exemptions among schoolchildren and warn that the U.S. may be approaching a resurgence of endemic measles, a disease previously declared eliminated nationwide 25 years ago. The outbreak has also spread to neighboring New Mexico and Oklahoma, raising concerns about the potential for further transmission. While there is no indication of widespread exposure in Missouri, health officials are taking proactive measures to prevent the virus from reaching the state. According to the DHSS, measles can spread through direct contact with an infected person or through the air when someone coughs or sneezes. The virus can linger in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person has left the area. Health officials urge anyone who suspects they may have measles, or who may have been exposed, to isolate and contact their healthcare provider before going to a clinic or hospital. This helps prevent further spread of the virus. DHSS says vaccination remains the best defense against measles. Two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine are about 97% effective in preventing the disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children receive their first MMR dose at 12 to 15 months of age and a second dose between ages 4 and 6. Unvaccinated adults are also encouraged to get caught up on their vaccinations. Children too young to receive the vaccine are especially vulnerable to severe complications from measles, highlighting the importance of community-wide immunization efforts. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR -
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Missouri has first confirmed measles case, health officials say
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Missouri has its first confirmed case of measles, health officials announced Friday. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) said someone visiting Taney County has a confirmed case of measles. This person has been associated with recent international travel, according to the DHSS. Possible measles exposure risk at Garden City hotel 'The case is in a child whose vaccination status has not yet been verified,' the DHSS said. 'There is no indication of widespread exposure as this person was diagnosed soon after arrival to Taney County.' The DHSS said exposure is believed to be limited, and known contacts have been identified and contacted. This is the first confirmed measles case detected in Missouri this year. 'For those unvaccinated or those unsure of their vaccination status, now is the time to review records and get caught up if needed,' said Dr. George Turabelidze, state epidemiologist with DHSS. The DHSS is supporting the Taney County Health Department with the disease investigation and advising individuals who may have been exposed. As of Thursday, there were 37 confirmed measles cases in Kansas. Measles outbreak in Kansas: 37 cases reported in past month Measles is a highly contagious viral illness that typically begins with fever, cough, runny nose and red and watery eyes. Symptoms appear within 7 to 14 days after contact with the virus. Tiny white spots may appear inside the mouth 2 to 3 days after symptoms begin. Measles rash appears 3 to 5 days after the first symptoms. It usually begins as flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline. They then spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. Measles can cause severe health complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and death. Measles can be transmitted by direct contact with infectious droplets or by airborne spread when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. The virus can remain infectious in the air and on surfaces for up to 2 hours after an infected person leaves an area. People who are infected will begin to have symptoms on average 1 to 2 weeks after being exposed to a person with measles. People who think they have measles or may have been exposed to measles should isolate themselves and call their health care provider before arriving to be tested. It is important to let the provider know that the patient may have measles and to get instructions on how to come to the office for diagnosis without exposing other people to the virus. More information about measles and county-level MMR vaccination rates can be found at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Missouri allocates cannabis revenue to veterans, addiction treatment
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services announced that it transferred its funds—amounting to $23.3 million—to its beneficiaries of the state's adult-use cannabis program. Authorized by the Supplemental Budget for Fiscal Year '25, these funds will be allocated to support veterans and drug addiction treatment. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Half of the allocation went to the Missouri Veterans Commission for healthcare and services for veterans and their families. The remaining funds were directed to the Department of Health and Senior Services to operate a grant program aimed at increasing access to drug addiction treatment. The Missouri Veterans Commission will use its share of the funds exclusively for healthcare and other services for military veterans and their families. The Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) plans to utilize its portion of the funds to enable access to drug addiction treatment and overdose prevention. DHSS also looks to support those with housing, job placement and counseling. The distribution of cannabis revenue marks a significant step in Missouri's efforts to benefit its citizens. More information about Missouri's medical and adult-use marijuana programs can be viewed here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Pilot program will test Missouri school wastewater for fentanyl, drugs
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Health authorities is expanding a pilot program to identify areas of high fentanyl use at schools across Missouri. The Department of Health and Senior Services is soliciting bids from contractors to test wastewater for opioids at select high schools. As of Feb. 23, vendors in Springfield and Kansas City, Missouri, have solicited bids, as well as a company based in Leesburg, Virginia. The deadline for vendors to submit a bid is Friday, Feb. 28. At present, the state has allocated $2 million to DHSS for the program for the 2025 fiscal year. Governor Mike Kehoe has proposed doubling that amount to $4 million. Once a contractor has been chosen, they will recruit between six and 12 high schools to participate in the program for the remainder of the 2024-25 school year. At least one school must represent each urban, suburban, and rural areas. ISP trooper dodges two crashes in seconds Samples will be collected once per week at each school for at least four consecutive weeks and with minimal disruption to the school's daily schedule. The samples will be delivered to the University of Missouri's School of Agroforestry in Columbia for testing. The tests won't reveal the quantity of opioids used nor confirm the number of individuals who used drugs. This sampling is being conducted to see if more schools should be included or the program expanded. 'Identifying patterns in opioid use can be helpful for developing educational materials, outreach strategies, and targeted programs and policies, and monitoring opioid trends can assist in planning and evaluating opioid response efforts,' DHSS stated. According to DHSS, 24,500 Missourians have died of an overdose over the last two decades. And in 2023, 72.1% of the 1,948 fatal overdoses in the state were the result of non-heroin opioids. St. Louis City leads the state in drug overdose mortality rates, with 108.25 such deaths per 100,000 people. Four counties in southeast Missouri round out the top five: Crawford, Phelps, Iron, and St. Francois. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
