Local public health departments are tracking a dramatic rise in influenza, pertussis (whooping cough) and measles cases across the country, as vaccination rates are declining. These illnesses can cause severe complications, including hospitalization and death, but remain largely preventable through vaccines.
“Vaccination is our most effective defense against these diseases,” said Darrell Meinke, director of the Clay County Health Center. “With rising cases of flu, pertussis and measles, especially among unvaccinated individuals, now is the time for our community to act.”
Influenza
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends seasonal flu vaccination for everyone age 6 months and older to reduce flu risk and decrease the severity of illness in people who get the flu. Despite this, fewer than half of Americans have received a flu vaccine so far this flu season (42% of adults and 40% of children as of Dec. 6, 2025). In the Kansas City metro area, local health departments are tracking a rise in cases, but they remain low compared to this time in previous years, showing it’s not too late to get a flu shot.
Pertussis (whooping cough)
Several local health departments are seeing much higher cases of pertussis than in previous years, which follows national trends. While Kansas and Missouri have seen increased cases, other parts of the country are seeing widespread outbreaks. Pertussis can be particularly severe and deadly in infants less than 1 year old. In Oregon, 87 infants have been infected so far this year, with 22 being hospitalized and one death reported. In Kentucky, state health officials recently confirmed the third pertussis death in 12 months, all in cases of unvaccinated infants. The best way to prevent pertussis is by receiving the Tdap or DTaP vaccines, routine vaccinations which protect against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. A series of DTaP vaccinations is recommended for infants beginning at 2 months. The Tdap is recommended for preteens, women during pregnancy, adults who have never received Tdap, and families and caregivers of infants who have not recently gotten a Tdap vaccine.
Measles
The Kansas City metro area recorded its first recent case of measles last month. A Kansas resident with a confirmed case was present at the Kansas City International Airport two times in November. This follows a dramatic increase in measles cases in the U.S. in 2025. The CDC has reported more than 1,950 cases of measles in the U.S. this year, the highest in decades. This is a sharp increase from 2024, with 285 measles cases, and 2023, with 59 cases. There have been more than 40 measles outbreaks this year, with current outbreaks in South Carolina, Utah and Arizona continuing to grow. Three people, including two school-aged children, have died from measles this year. Measles is highly contagious and can spread quickly in unvaccinated populations. MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccination rates have declined in recent years, even though the MMR vaccine provides 97% protection against infection after two doses.
To protect against the resurgence of these diseases and COVID-19, local health departments recommend:
- Annual flu vaccination for everyone 6 months of age and older.
- Talking to a health care provider (pharmacist, doctor, nurse or other medical provider) about COVID-19 vaccination for people 6 months of age and older, especially those age 65 and older and people under 65 with an underlying medical condition.
- MMR vaccination for children and adults who are not fully vaccinated.
- DTaP or Tdap vaccination to protect against pertussis for children who are not fully vaccinated, pregnant individuals during each pregnancy and adults who are not fully vaccinated, especially caregivers of infants and those in contact with young children.
These vaccines are readily available at most health care providers, pharmacies and local health departments. If you have questions regarding the vaccines or your vaccination status, please reach out to your primary care provider or local health department.
“We have the tools to help prevent these diseases,” said Meinke. “We urge you to have conversations with your trusted health care providers about the flu, pertussis and measles vaccines. You can take simple but powerful steps to protect the health of you, your family and your community.”
