Saline County is not immune from the Nationwide Spread of Measles

March 17, 2026

Measles cases are climbing across the United States, and with recent exposures cited in both St. Louis and in Kansas City, public health officials say this should concern families in Saline County and throughout mid-Missouri. Fitzgibbon Hospital is urging residents to check their vaccination records and talk with their health care provider about protection against this highly contagious disease. Measles is especially dangerous for infants, who are too young to have received the vaccine.

In 2025, the United States recorded more measles cases than in any year in roughly three decades, with federal data showing more than 1,500 confirmed infections and multiple deaths. Most of those who became ill were unvaccinated or did not know their vaccination status. And more than one in 10 patients required hospitalization. Early 2026 reports show cases continuing to mount, driven by outbreaks in communities where fewer children – due to parent choice or parent ignorance - are getting the measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccine.

Missouri has already seen measles return after years without a case, including infections reported in 2024 and 2025 that were linked to travel. State health officials note that Missouri’s measles vaccination rate among schoolchildren is a little over 90 percent — below the 95 percent level needed for strong community, known as “herd” immunity. At the same time, exemptions from school MMR requirements have been rising, which creates pockets where the virus can spread quickly if it is introduced.

Certain groups in our community face a much higher risk of serious complications from measles, even when they seem healthy. Those most at-risk for serious complications or death include babies younger than 12 months, who are too young to have received the MMR vaccine; children and adults with weakened immune systems from conditions like cancer or immune-suppressing medications; and pregnant women, who can experience severe illness and pregnancy complications if they become infected.

Measles is not just a rash and a fever; it can quickly lead to pneumonia, brain swelling and, in some cases, measles can kill. Because the virus spreads so easily through the air, these vulnerable individuals must rely on the protection created when the rest of us are fully vaccinated. When Saline County maintains high MMR vaccination rates, it builds a protective “shield,” which protects infants and others at highest risk who cannot yet be protected on their own, say health officials.

Because the virus spreads through the air and can linger in a room for up to two hours after an infected person leaves, one case can rapidly become an outbreak in an under-vaccinated school, church group, shopping center or workplace.

Fitzgibbon Hospital, as a community partner in health, encourages Saline County residents to verify that children and adults are up-to-date on the recommended two doses of MMR vaccine, which provide about 97 percent protection against measles. Parents should ensure their children get vaccinated on schedule, according to their primary care provider. Area residents who are unsure of their vaccination status, who are planning international travel or who believe they may have been exposed should contact their doctor’s office.

If you do not have a primary care physician, Fitzgibbon Hospital has several primary care clinics that are accepting new patients, including Marshall Family Practice at 660-886-7800. Visit www.fitzgibbon.org to find a Fitzgibbon Hospital owned clinic nearest you.