Kansas

Kansas measles cases reach 23; new Ohio outbreak sickens 10

Published

9 months ago

March 26, 2025

Kansas measles cases reach 23; new Ohio outbreak sickens 10

More measles cases reported across the country

Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, Infectious Disease Expert, joins LiveNOW from FOX to talk about more measles cases being reported across the country. According to the CDC, there were more than 160 cases reported.

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.

FILE – A person receives a vaccination as public health officials urge immunization to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. (Photo by Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

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.”

The Source: This article is based on reporting from the Associated Press, which cited updates from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the Ohio Department of Health, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Case counts and vaccination data reflect official state and federal figures as of March 2025.

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Kansas

IU football lands Kansas State transfer edge rusher Tobi Osunsanmi

Published

10 hours ago

January 4, 2026

Press Room

IU football lands Kansas State transfer edge rusher Tobi Osunsanmi

Indiana’s portal haul continued to grow Sunday as multiple outlets reported the addition of Kansas State edge rusher Tobi Osunsanmi.

Osunsanmi has played in 36 games over the last four years and has 8.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss. Most of that production came over the last two seasons. He has a total of 47 QB pressures during his college career.

In 2025 he played in six games and had 20 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks. He suffered a season-ending injury in October.

He saw action in all 13 games in 2024 as a reserve defensive end and on special teams, recording 19 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble over 303 defensive snaps and 31 special teams plays.

In 2023 he saw time in all 13 games as a reserve linebacker, a rush end on passing downs and on special teams. He was tied for team-high honors with five tackles on kickoff coverage.

He played in four games in 2022 and preserved his redshirt.

The 6-foot-3 and 250-pound Osunsanmi has one year of eligibility remaining.

The Wichita, Kan. product (Wichita East H.S.) was regarded as the 232nd-best overall player in the nation for the Class of 2022 by 247Sports.

Osunsanmi will help fill the void left by outgoing edge rushers Mikail Kamara, Kellan Wyatt and Stephen Daley.

More transfer portal information:

For complete coverage of IU football recruiting, GO HERE.

The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly”

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Kansas

Kansas football transfer portal tracker: Jan. 4 developments for KU

Published

22 hours ago

January 4, 2026

Press Room

Kansas football transfer portal tracker: Jan. 4 developments for KU

LAWRENCE — The Division I transfer portal window for college football is open from Jan. 2 through Jan. 16, and that means Sunday is another chance for the Kansas football program to shape its roster.

The Jayhawks already gained one public addition earlier this offseason in Grand Valley State transfer Jibriel Conde — whose signing was announced Dec. 4. Conde, who is making the jump up from Division II, is a 247Sports-rated three-star defensive lineman in the portal and is listed by KU as a defensive tackle. On Saturday, a number of current Kansas players — including redshirt freshman quarterback Isaiah Marshall, redshirt sophomore wide receiver Keaton Kubecka and redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Blake Herold — also outlined in social media posts on X that they are locked in with the program for the 2026 season.

Marshall is set to compete for the starting quarterback job next season. Kubecka has the chance to step up into a more significant role at wide receiver. Herold is in line to be a key part of Kansas’ defensive line.

Those positives, though, don’t outweigh the fact that there has been a sizable group of players who have revealed their intentions to transfer away. Looking overall, when it comes to those whose decisions became public before and after the portal opened, the significant names to know include redshirt senior safety Lyrik Rawls, redshirt junior linebacker Trey Lathan and freshman quarterback David McComb. Lathan led KU in tackles in 2025.

Check in here for more updates during this transfer portal window about a KU team that finished 5-7 during the 2025 season, with transfer ratings as outlined by 247Sports.

Kansas football transfer portal additions

Jibriel Conde (3-star defensive lineman from Grand Valley State) — KU lists him as a defensive tackle

Kansas football transfer portal departures

Joseph Sipp Jr. (linebacker)

Jacoby Davis (cornerback)

Dylan Brooks (defensive end)

Jaidyn Doss (wide receiver)

Carter Lavrusky (offensive lineman)

Trey Lathan (linebacker)

Tyler Mercer (offensive lineman)

Harry Stewart III (running back)

Caleb Redd (3-star edge) — KU lists him as a defensive end

Aundre Gibson (3-star cornerback)

David McComb (3-star quarterback)

Kene Anene (3-star interior offensive lineman) — KU lists him as an offensive lineman

Laquan Robinson (3-star safety)

Jameel Croft Jr. (3-star cornerback)

Logan Brantley (3-star linebacker)

Greydon Grimes (3-star offensive tackle) — KU lists him as an offensive lineman

Jon Jon Kamara (3-star linebacker)

Lyrik Rawls (3-star safety)

Damani Maxson (3-star safety)

Jaden Hamm (tight end)

Bryce Cohoon (wide receiver)

JaCorey Stewart (linebacker)

Johnny Thompson Jr. (running back)

Efren Jasso (punter)

Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

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