Pressroom

Source: Wichita Eagle (KS)

By: Ryan, Kelsey

06/24/2014

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment hopes not to see a widespread outbreak of the measles in the state, but 27 cases were confirmed in the Kansas City metro area and three in Johnson County earlier this month. State epidemiologist Charlie Hunt says the department is working with health officials in Johnson County to investigate and follow up on these cases. There have been 514 cases of measles in 20 states so far this year, with 16 outbreaks accounting for 87 percent of these cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Thomas Moore of Infectious Disease Consultants and Wesley Medical Center says an increase in the number of people refusing to vaccinate their children is largely responsible for the increase in cases nationwide. “Parents are responsible for the health and safety of their child and all the information that the vaccination is harmful or linked to autism in any way has been thoroughly debunked,” he said. “Failure to vaccinate your child is negligence.”