Kansas reported its first case of measles since 2018 in Stevens County. This case follows a measles outbreak in west Texas and New Mexico, resulting in two deaths. Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease preventable through vaccination.

The case in Stevens County, Kansas, is the first confirmed case of measles in Kansas since 2018, officials said.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is alerting Kansans that a positive case of measles has been discovered. On Thursday, the KDHE reported that a resident in Stevens County tested positive for measles.

State and county officials say a Stevens County resident has tested positive for measles and that they don’t yet know if the infection is linked to outbreaks elsewhere in the country. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment and Stevens County Health Department reported the infection Thursday.

Measles cases rarely occur in Kansas and are usually associated with international travel. For questions, call the Stevens County Health Department at 620-544-7177 or KDHE Epidemiology Hotline at 877-427-7317 (option 5).

According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, a measles case has been confirmed in Stevens County. Health officials say it’s not known if the case is linked to any ongoing outbreaks, but the Stevens County Health Department is notifying people who might have been exposed to the disease.