Measles cases remain steady as new school year approaches

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- Summer continues to go on and with it the measles cases in all parts of the country have continued.

This comes as the 2025-26 school year approaches for Missouri and other states. According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, the kindergarten vaccination rate stood at 90% and nearly 97% in Buchanan county in 2024.

Buchanan County's exemption rate was roughly 2%.

"With travel they should use masks, proper hand hygiene." St. Joseph Community Health Nurse Kristi Billings said. "Make sure you're vaccinated before you travel. It's very rare that most of the older population haven't been vaccinated. It's the younger ones that are traveling in close quarters with somebody. The illness can last in a room for a longer period of time than the person being there."

For the general population, those who are not vaccinated, as well as pregnant women and low immunity children under the age of 12, have the highest risk of contracting the virus.