by Kate Evans
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), measles cases are being watched in 15 jurisdictions: Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, New York State, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont and Washington. An outbreak in Texas has infected 259 people and hospitalized 34.
Measles is a highly contagious illness that can spread easily though the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes.
Possible exposure at Dulles
A Maryland measles case was reported last week in Howard County due to international travel.
Last Friday, the West Virginia Bureau of Public Health said they had been notified of a confirmed case of measles at Washington Dulles International Airport on Wednesday, March 5.
The Maryland Department of Health and Howard County also reported the case, which involved someone that was returning from international travel and who is a Maryland resident. Public officials now believe that West Virginia residents may have been exposed.
The date, time and location of the potential measles exposure site for West Virginians and Maryland residents is Dulles International Airport in Terminal A, on transportation to the main terminal and in the baggage claim area between 4 and 9 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5.
Maryland residents were also advised that if they were at the Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center Pediatric Emergency Department, March 7, 3:30-7:30 p.m. that day that they could’ ve been exposed there, too.
Symptoms
In the first stage of measles, most people have a fever of greater than 101 degrees or spiking to over 104 degrees, a runny nose, watery red eyes and a cough. These symptoms usually start 10 to 14 days after exposure but measles can develop as soon as seven days and as long as 21 days afterwards.
The second stage of measles starts three to five days after symptoms begin, when a rash starts to appear on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.
People with measles are contagious from four days before the rash appears through four days after the rash appeared.
Serious measles complications include pneumonia and encephalitis (brain swelling).
What should you do?
If people were exposed to measles at either Dulles Airport location and they have never received a measles-containing vaccine, they may be at risk of developing measles.
Anyone who was exposed and considered to be at risk of developing measles should contact their healthcare provider immediately.
People who develop a fever or other symptoms of measles shouldn’t go to childcare, school, work or out in public.
Watch for measles symptoms for 21 days. If you notice symptoms, immediately isolate yourself by staying home. Contact your health care provider right away.
Call ahead to your health care provider’s office or to the emergency room and let them know you have been exposed to measles. This helps reduce the risk of spreading the disease.
Who has immunity?
The measles vaccine has been required for school-age children and been administered to young children for decades as part of a normal well-child routine by the medical profession.
West Virginia and Maryland health officials said if individuals have received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine or if they were born before 1957, those people are protected against infection and don’t need to take any action.
People are generally considered immune to measles if they have had two measles vaccine shots, previously had measles or laboratory evidence of immunity or infection, or were born in the United States before 1957.
Those who have received only one dose of a measles-containing vaccine are very likely protected and their risk of being infected with measles from any of these exposures is very low. But to achieve complete immunity, ask a healthcare provider about getting a second vaccine dose.
The CDC recommends that people receive two MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine doses, the first at ages 12 to 15 months and the second dose between ages 4 and 6 years old.
Blood test for immunity
River Bend Family Medicine medical assistant Heather Goodman said that all of their staff had blood drawn to check titers for exposure to measles. Everyone was immune.
Goodman said the blood test can easily be ordered for their patients, who can get the test done at Meritus Laboratory or wherever they have their blood work done. Their office can administer the measles vaccine or a booster to their commercially-insured patients, depending on whether the blood test came back showing immunity or no immunity to measles.
Members of the public can check with their primary care provider to see what services they offer for testing and vaccination.
For guidance
West Virginia residents with questions about potential exposure to measles can call the Office of Epidemiology and Prevention Services at (304) 558-5358.
Maryland residents should call Howard County Health Department’s Infectious Disease Surveillance and Response Program at 410-313-6284 for additional guidance about exposure.
According to the CDC, measles is highly contagious airborne virus and can be serious. Anyone who isn’t protected against measles is at risk. Measles can cause serious health complications, especially in children younger than five years old.
Common complications are ear infections and diarrhea. You can get measles just by being in a room where a person with measles has been, CDC officials noted.
Measles is preventable through vaccines and has been considered eliminated from the United States since 2000, according to the CDC. However, measles is still common in many parts of the world.
The MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine gives long-lasting protection against all strains of measles. Two doses of MMR vaccine are around 97% effective at preventing measles. One dose is about 93% effective. The CDC recommends that all travelers be fully vaccinated against measles before traveling to any international destination.
If you don’t have immunity against these diseases and are exposed to them, talk with your health care provider about getting the MMR vaccine.
Scientists across the globe have studied the MMR vaccine and determined that there is no link between the MMR vaccine and autism, CDC officials emphasize.
Importance of vaccination
Health officials note that almost everyone who hasn’t had the MMR vaccine will get sick if they are exposed to these viruses. Vaccines and high rates of vaccination have helped make these diseases much less common in the United States. Vaccination is important for children and adults that don’t have immunity.
Two unvaccinated people have died from measles-related causes. A school-age child died of measles in Texas last month. New Mexico reported its first measles-related death in an adult last week.
A woman infected with measles just gave birth in a Texas hospital exposing newborns, new moms and their families to measles, bringing the count to over 300 people exposed.