Health department warns of possible measles exposure after case confirmed in Lancaster County

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) — The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department said it was “a matter of time” before measles appeared locally, after confirming the county’s first measles case in more than three decades.

Health officials shared details about the case during a news conference Tuesday morning, along with guidance on possible exposure locations and steps the public should take.

According to the health department, the case involves a vaccinated adult with no out-of-state travel history, raising concerns about local exposure.

Officials say people may have been exposed at the following locations:

• Walmart near North 27th Street on January 18, 1-3:30 p.m.
• Med Elite Urgent Care on January 25, 1:30-5 p.m.

Health Director Kerry Kernen urged unvaccinated individuals who may have been exposed to isolate and monitor for symptoms for 21 days, the typical incubation period for measles.

Measles cases in the U.S.(Johns Hopkins University)

Kernen emphasized vaccination as the most effective protection against the highly contagious disease.

Someone infected with measles can infect up to 18 other people, making it the most contagious virus known to humans.

“We have some that either missed a dose, for some adults they’ve never gotten vaccinated, some children have never gotten vaccinated,” Kernen said. “We really are encouraging people to check their status. If they’re not sure if they have been vaccinated, they can talk to their healthcare provider or check with their pharmacist.”

Health officials say infants 12 months and younger, who have not yet received both recommended doses of the measles vaccine, are among those at the highest risk.

“If we can get about 95% of the population vaccinated against measles, that protects those that either are not getting vaccinated or do not build up that immune response.“

Measles was declared eradicated from the U.S. in 2000, but cases have been on the rise in recent years. 2025 marked the most cases nationwide since measles was eradicated.

Cumulative measles cases reported in the United States by year(Johns Hopkins University)

“You think measles, gosh, that’s a long time ago, and yeah, scary,” said Chris Brunner, director of The Children’s Place Daycare Center in Lincoln.

Brunner has been at The Children’s Place for more than 40 years, and told 10/11 part of what makes measles so difficult is how indistinguishable it is from the common cold, flu or covid until the rash develops.

“We have kids who have runny noses and coughs, eleven-and-a-half months out of the year,” Brunner said. “So we can’t just go on that.”

While the measles vaccine is highly effective, officials stress that no vaccine offers 100% protection.

“You get about 93% protection with the first dose and about 97% with the second,” Kernen said, noting a small percentage of people may not build immunity. “That’s why herd immunity is so important.”

Health officials say about 95% vaccination coverage is needed to protect the most vulnerable, including infants, immunocompromised individuals, and older adults.

Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, and a rash, which typically appears several days after initial symptoms begin.

“That’s why we’re asking people to monitor closely,” Kernen said, adding that anyone who believes they may have been exposed should contact their healthcare provider before seeking in-person care.

The Lincoln Public School District began redeveloping their measles response plan in 2019, right before the coronavirus pandemic.

District Health Director Wendy Rau said the pandemic helped them be more prepared for incidents like this by enhancing their collaboration with the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department.

They developed better contact tracing and communication protocols.

“This really enhanced that partnership and our back and forth collaboration is just fantastic,” Rau said.

The measles vaccine is required for attendance at LPS, which is why the district has a nearly 98% vaccination rate.

However, there are students with medical or religious exemptions who would be impacted if the district had a confirmed case.

“They will need to be out of school until they either contact their provider and start the measles vaccine or the exclusion time would be 21 days,” Rau said.

Two measles cases were reported in Platte County in late December, bringing last years total to three cases statewide with the Sheridan County case in May.

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