(Washington,
D.C.) -
Metro Washington area health officials
are mounting a coordinated campaign to
identify people who may have been
exposed to new measles activity in the
region. Potential public exposure sites
are in Arlington County, Virginia,
Montgomery County, Maryland, and the
District of Columbia.
Special call-in
numbers have been established by the
affected jurisdictions.
Although most people are immune
to measles because of longstanding
vaccination requirements, a number of
people in the region are not, especially
children under 12 months of age..
Because diseases do not respect borders
and the fact that most in the Washington
metro area travel through multiple
jurisdictions multiple times a day, a
single case of measles anywhere in the
region has the potential to become a
regionwide concern.
Measles is a highly contagious illness
that is spread through coughing,
sneezing, and contact with secretions
from the nose, mouth, and throat of an
infected individual. The measles virus
can live in the air for several hours
after a person coughs or sneezes..
Initial symptoms of measles include
rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, and
red, watery eyes, which can last about a
week. While most people with measles
will recover, 20% of cases experience
one or more complications, especially
children under 5 years of age and adults
over 20 years. Anyone who suspects he or
she has measles should stay home to keep
from potentially spreading the disease
and call your health care provider.
If
you think you may have the measles, you
should not show up at the hospital
Emergency Room or doctors offices
without calling first so they can
prepare the proper infection control
measures before your arrival. You should
limit your exposure to others.
As
with preventing the spread of any
contagious infection, you should also
wash your hands frequently and
thoroughly and always cover your cough.
Fortunately, measles vaccine can safely
and effectively prevent this disease.
And while most people are immune because
of national, state and local vaccination
requirements, sporadic cases can happen
when unvaccinated people visit other
countries where measles still exists in
the population.
These recent cases of measles and the
exposure of others across our region is
an excellent reminder to make sure you
and your loved ones are protected
against measles. Have your health care
provider review your immunizations and
get vaccinated against the measles and
other vaccine-preventable diseases, as
appropriate. Measles vaccine is
available through your primary care
physician and your local health
department.
Listed below are the dates, times and
locations of the potential exposure
sites associated with the most recent
case of measles:
are PDF.
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