March 26, 2018
Stay healthy, aware following spring break
Submitted by Communications and Marketing
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has identified a measles outbreak in the Kansas City area. There are not any suspected cases in the Manhattan area, but K-State advises students who were in the KC metro area over the break to watch for symptoms.
Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by the Measles virus and is a reportable disease in Kansas. Symptoms can appear seven to 21 days after exposure, though normally within 14 days, and include: fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, redness of the eyes, blotchy rash — beginning on the head, near the hairline, then spreads down the neck, trunk, arms and legs — and white spots inside the mouth. People are contagious one to two days before onset of symptoms and four days after the rash appears.
Individuals who have received the measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccine have a low risk of contracting the disease and immunization is the best way to prevent the disease, according to Riley County Health Department.
Again there are no current cases in the Riley County area but any students with symptoms — even if they have received the MMR vaccine — should immediately call Lafene Health Center at 785-532-6544 and ask for a nurse before they visit the health center. Read a PDF of Riley County Health Department fact sheet on measles.