Health & Environment

The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment will once again offer 2nd Saturday of the month, Household Hazardous Waste collection events. Our next event will take place on Saturday, July 14th from 8-11:30am and are by appointment only. These events are for residential drop-offs only and residents can schedule a drop-off time through our online scheduler. Saturday collection events will occur the 2nd Saturday of the month and will run through October. Electronic waste will not be accepted, however, Secure E-Cycle is located a short distance from the Household Hazardous Waste facility and will be accepting items during the Saturday collection events. Prices for electronic recycling are: TVs under 31" ($25), TVs over 31" ($35), CRT monitors ($10), LCD computer monitors ($5), PC's with data destruction ($5), all other accepted electronics are free. Secure E-Cycle will also accept paper for shredding, prices for secure paper disposal are $25 for the 1st box, and $5 for each additional box. For other electronic recycling options go to RecycleSpot.org to find the locations closest to you.

The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment identified 22 cases of measles that were epidemiologically linked after an infant who was too young to be vaccinated was infected with measles while traveling internationally. Health officials began investigating the outbreak on March 8 and continued until it was declared over on May 28 by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. 

Johnson County Measles Investigation FAQ

Top 4 things parents need to know about measles 

Las 4 cosas principales que deben saber los padres sobre el sarampión 

HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS: Measles Clinical Information

HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS: Healthcare Facility Infection Control Recommendations for Suspect Measles Cases

Kansas Department of Health and Environment Measles Information

Kansas Department of Health and Environment 2018 News Releases

Measles Exposure Sites in Missouri

The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment (JCDHE) has confirmed three cases of measles in a Johnson County, Kan. child care facility. All identified cases are in children less than one year of age, who are too young to be vaccinated for the disease. Those at risk for the disease have been contacted and the investigation is ongoing.

In order to prevent the spread of measles, the affected children and others they have come in contact with have been excluded from the child care facility for 21 days following the last exposure to the disease, per the Kansas Administrative Regulation 28-1-6. Any child that has been exposed to measles should not attend any childcare facility or school. This protects the community from further spread.

Measles is a respiratory disease caused by a virus. Since the creation of the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine, measles cases are rare in the United States; however, it still sickens millions and kills 146,000 people worldwide each year.

“Vaccination is the best way to prevent measles in children and adults. Make sure children have the MMR vaccine when they are 12 to 15 months old, and again before they enter kindergarten,” said JCDHE Director Lougene Marsh.

Measles is highly contagious and is spread through the air by breathing, coughing, or sneezing. The signs and symptoms of measles typically begin one to two weeks after someone is exposed to an infected person. Symptoms include:

• Fever
• Blotchy rash on the skin, which spreads from the head to the trunk then to the lower extremities (Measles can be spread to others from four days before to four days after the rash appears.)
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
• Feeling run down, achy
• Tiny white spots with bluish-white centers found inside the mouth (Koplik’s spots)

“If your child has a fever, keep them home except to see a healthcare provider. If you need to visit your healthcare provider, call ahead so appropriate measures can be taken to protect other patients and staff,” said Marsh.

People at high risk for severe illness and complications from measles include infants and children less than 5 years of age, adults older than 20 years, pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems.

For more information about measles: http://www.cdc.gov/features/Measles/index.html

The new shingles vaccine that is 90 percent effective in preventing shingles and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), the most common complication from shingles, is now available at the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment’s immunization clinics.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults over age 50 get two doses of the shingles vaccine Shingrix®, separated by 2 to 6 months, to prevent shingles and the complications from the disease. Shingrix is the preferred vaccine because it provides stronger protection than Zostavax®, a shingles vaccine in use since 2006. Shingrix is also recommended for people who have already gotten Zostavax.

You can get Shingrix whether or not you remember having had chickenpox in the past. Studies show that more than 99 percent of Americans 40 years and older have had chickenpox, even if they don’t remember having the disease. Chickenpox and shingles are related because they are caused by the same virus (varicella zoster virus). After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus stays dormant (inactive) in the body. It can reactivate years later and cause shingles. If you had shingles in the past, you can get Shingrix to help prevent future occurrences of the disease. Consult with your healthcare provider or one of JCDHE’s immunization nurses about the best time to receive Shingrix.

Shingrix is available on a walk-in basis at the immunization clinics in Olathe and Mission: https://www.jocogov.org/dept/health-and-environment/health/immunizations/adults

Many health insurance plans will cover the vaccine. Contact your insurer to find out.

• What Everyone Should Know about Shingles Vaccine (Shingrix): https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/public/shingrix/index.html
• Recombinant Zoster (Shingles) Vaccine Information Statement: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/shingles-recombinant.pdf
• More information about Shingles: https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/about/overview.html;
• Culebrilla – Información general: https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/about/overview-sp.html