LOS ANGELES – A measles outbreak that began in southwestern Kansas has rapidly expanded to 23 cases and may be connected to earlier outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico, which have collectively sickened more than 370 people, according to state and federal health officials.

At the same time, Ohio health authorities confirmed that a case in Ashtabula County has led to 10 infections, marking a concerning resurgence of the highly contagious disease across multiple states.

Where are measles outbreaks spreading in Kansas and Ohio?

What we know:

In Kansas, the Department of Health and Environment said Wednesday that the outbreak has more than doubled since Friday, when only 10 cases had been reported. The infections have now spread across six counties: Grant, Morton, Stevens, Haskell, Gray, and Kiowa.

Nearly all of the Kansas cases are in people under 18. The outbreak began with a case identified in Stevens County on March 13. In response, Kansas health officials have issued an alert to medical providers and are recommending early MMR vaccination for infants 6 to 11 months old living in or near affected counties — a measure typically reserved for outbreak situations.

In Ohio, the state health department confirmed that 10 cases are currently in Ashtabula County. A separate case involving a visitor in Knox County led to exposure concerns across multiple counties. Ohio previously saw a large outbreak in 2022, which sickened 85 people in central parts of the state.

What we don’t know:

It remains unclear how long these outbreaks will continue to grow or whether they will spread to additional states with similarly low vaccination rates. 

Health officials have not identified a single source linking the Kansas and Ohio outbreaks to those in Texas and New Mexico, though potential connections are being investigated. 

It’s also unknown how many exposed individuals may develop symptoms in the coming days, given the disease’s incubation period.

How are other states involved in the outbreak?

The backstory:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that measles cases in 2025 have already surpassed all reported cases in 2024 — even before the Kansas and Ohio clusters were added. As of Tuesday, New Mexico had 43 outbreak-related cases, and Texas reported 327. Oklahoma has nine cases linked to the Texas and New Mexico outbreaks.

Public health experts say the Texas outbreak, which began in January, could last for months. If it spreads further into undervaccinated communities, it may continue for a year or more — and could put the U.S. at risk of losing its measles elimination status.

Why vaccination rates are a key concern

By the numbers:

Health officials emphasize that the MMR vaccine — a two-dose series typically given before kindergarten — is about 97% effective at preventing measles. But several Kansas counties in the outbreak have lower-than-recommended vaccination rates:

Morton County: 82%

Stevens County: 83%

Haskell County: 58%

Gray County: 66%

Public health experts recommend a 95% vaccination rate to prevent outbreaks. Kansas’ state health department warns that more cases are likely to emerge in and around the affected counties, especially among the unvaccinated.

In Ohio, CDC data from the 2023–24 school year shows that 89% of kindergarteners were vaccinated against measles — below the optimal threshold.

What they’re saying:

“Given the measles activity in Texas, New Mexico, and other states around the country, we’re disappointed but not surprised we now have several cases here in Ohio and known exposure in some counties,” said Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff.

“This disease can be very serious, even deadly, but it is almost entirely avoidable by being properly vaccinated,” he added.

Jill Bronaugh, a spokesperson for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said, “Due to the highly contagious nature of measles, additional cases are likely to occur within the current outbreak area and the surrounding counties, especially among those who are unvaccinated.”

SMITH COUNTY—Authorities are investigating the cause of a fatal fire in Smith County.

Just after 5a.m. Tuesday, first responders were alerted to a fire at the Home on the Rang Lodging Motel on East Highway 36 in Smith Center, according to Sheriff Travis Conway.

First responders pulled a unresponsive person from the structure who was pronounced dead at the scene. The Smith County Sheriff’f office, investigators from the Kansas State Fire Marshal and a K9 from Sedgwick County Fire are working together to investigate.  No foul play is suspected.  Authorities have not released the name of the victim or a damage estimate.

LIBERTY, Mo. — Schools in Kansas and Missouri differ in more ways than just the state line dividing them.

Kansas has never had a state law restricting certain sex offenders from being on school property.

In addition, Kansas doesn’t have residency restrictions.

Lawmakers in Kansas want that to change.

Senate Sub for HB 2164 passed the Kansas Senate by a vote of 37-3 on Thursday.

The bill was proposed by Kansas Sen. Kellie Warren after parents in the Blue Valley School District made complaints about a registered sex offender being allowed to attend an elementary school dance in a chaperone role.

If the bill becomes law, it would be a felony offense for registered adult sex offenders convicted of crimes against minors to enter school property or attend certain school activities.

In Missouri, a registered sex offender convicted of certain crimes against a minor can’t be within 500 feet of school property and can’t live within 1,000 feet of a school.

The offenses include:

– Incest
– Endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree
– Use of a child in a sexual performance
– Promoting a sexual performance by a child
– Sexual exploitation of a minor
– Possession of child pornography
– Promoting child pornography
– Furnishing pornographic material to minors

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office Sex Offender Registration and Enforcement Unit oversees around 460 registered sex offenders.

Sarah Boyd, public relations manager for the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, said there are some special circumstances in their law that the Kansas House could consider while debating the bill.

​”Missouri law does give the possibility for the school districts to grant exceptions, because, you know, everything is case-by-case, and everything that you see on a court paper may not represent the real circumstances of an incident. Not to say that we should just let all the sex offenders in the schools, but you know, there may be a chance someone’s child is really struggling, and we find a way to meet off-site to talk about it,” Boyd said.

Like most law enforcement agencies, Clay County Sheriff’s deputies conduct address verification checks, investigate complaints, and follow up with offenders who haven’t registered.

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The sheriff’s office also maintains strong partnerships with schools.

“Most of the schools in Clay County, when you come into the building, you have to present your driver’s license and they run that and it will show up if you are a sex offender,” Boyd said. “They contact us, we confirm that we’re then in touch with that sex offender. Say, ‘Hey, you cannot be at that school’”. Boyd said.

Boyd said their main challenge can be offenders without a home.

“One of the most difficult issues for the sex offender registration and enforcement unit is transients, so we have a lot of people on the registry who are homeless,” Boyd said. “That is hard to keep track of…of where they are. They have difficulty, you know, getting here to register. They can say they will live one place, but maybe that’s just for a couple weeks, and then they’re somewhere else.”

Kansas and Missouri could soon have laws that are common to both states.

“If there’s no enforcement, then there’s not a lot of incentive to comply,” Boyd said. “I think this legislation is a helpful tool for schools and for families to feel safer where they are. While the risk is low, it’s not zero.”

The bill had significant bipartisan support in the Senate and is in the House conference committee for a vote.

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KSHB 41 reporter Alyssa Jackson covers portions of Johnson County, including Overland Park, Prairie Village and Leawood. Share your story idea with Alyssa.