The Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Sedgwick County Health Department have identified two more sites where people could have been exposed to measles in Wichita. A new case of the virus has also been confirmed. KMUWs Abigail Wilson reports…
A new case of measles has been identified in Wichita, raising the total number of confirmed cases to 9 since the first was reported on July 10.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment said an employee at Sumo by Nambara, a restaurant on East 13th Street North has been identified as having the virus.
Health officials are requesting anyone who dined at Sumo by Nambara on July 11 or 12 and have subsequently developed an illness with fever and rash to contact their healthcare provider.
Sara Belfry is the communications director for KDHE.
“If you feel sick, if you're coming down with a fever and rash, stay home. Don’t go to work. You need to see your healthcare provider. Call them ahead so that appropriate measures can be taken to protect other patients and staff."
KDHE has also identified another site of possible exposure - the South Lakes Sports Complex. On the fourth of July, a person later found to have measles was at the complex during a softball tournament that included eight teams from four states.
The first reported source of the measles outbreak in Wichita was Sal's Japanese Steakhouse.
Measles is highly contagious and is spread through the air by breathing, coughing, or sneezing. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, measles is so contagious that if one person has it, 90 percent of the people close to that person who are not immune will also become infected with the measles virus.
The Sedgwick County Health Department will hold a free MMR vaccination clinic Saturday, 7-18-14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 2716 W. Central in Wichita. No out-of pocket fees will be charged. However, Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance will be filed if available.
