MEASLES: IMPORTANT INFORMATION

As you may already know, there has been a confirmed case of measles in Monroe County.

The periods of potential exposure to others would have been between Tuesday, Sept. 17th and Friday, Sept. 20th at the following potential locations: 

• Hampton Inn – 878 Hard Road, Webster

• CGS Fabrication – 855 Publishers Parkway, Webster

• Calvary Robotics – 855 Publishers Parkway, Webster

• Hooligans Eastside Grill – 809 Ridge Road East, Webster

• Jojo’s Bistro and Wine Bar – 42 East Main Street, Webster

• The individual departed from the Greater Rochester International Airport on Friday. The individual was said to be at the airport from 2:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. The individual departed on American Airlines Flight 4722 to Boston, with a final destination of Los Angeles.

The Monroe County Health Department is involved and the proper precautions are being taken. 

***Most importantly, your child is considered to be up-to-date with their measles vaccine if:

1. the child is >12 months & <4 years old and has received the 1st MMR vaccine.

2. if the child is >4 years old and has received 2 doses of MMR vaccine. 

If the above is true for your child(ren), and there has been no known exposure to measles, then the information below is only FYI about this very serious illness. 

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IMPORTANT MEASLES INFORMATION**

**NOTE: If you have chosen to not vaccinate your child(ren) for measles, please read the following information:
– To protect your children and other vulnerable patients in our waiting room, we ask that your children not be brought to our office for the next 3 weeks.  If your child has an urgent medical issue that cannot wait, please call and discuss with a nurse so we may make special arrangements to see your child.  

– Protection with MMR vaccine now, even after exposure, may prevent or lessen the severity of measles. Please call for a nurse visit  if you would like to protect your children from measles. 

• What is measles?

  Measles is a serious respiratory disease that causes a rash and fever. It is very contagious. You can catch it just by being in a room where someone with measles coughed or sneezed.

  • 9 out of 10 unprotected patients will be infected if sharing the same space as someone who has measles.

  • The air space is contagious up to 2 hours after the ill patient has left the area. 

• What are the symptoms?

  Symptoms usually appear about 10 to 12 days after a person is exposed to measles. The first symptoms are usually:

  • High fever

  • Cough

  • Runny nose

  • Red watery eyes

  • Rash 

    • Usually appears 2 to 4 days after the fever begins and lasts 5 to 6 days. 

    • Begins at the hairline, moves to the face and neck, down the body and then to the arms and legs. 

    • Small red spots, some of which are slightly raised. Spots and bumps in tight clusters give the skin a splotchy red appearance.

 

A few important facts:

1) A person with measles can pass it to others from 4 days before a rash appears through the 4th day after the rash appears. Before the rash, symptoms are similar to a routine viral cold w/ runny nose and cough. 

2)  An exposed individual may come down with measles any time in the next 21 days.

3) Measles is a serious disease especially for children under 5 years old and the elderly.

o    About 1 in 4 people in the U.S. who get measles will be hospitalized.

o    Many people with measles have complications such as diarrhea, ear infections or pneumonia.

o    1 out of every 1,000 people with measles will develop brain swelling, which could lead to brain damage and deafness.

o    1 or 2 out of 1,000 people with measles will die, even with the best care.

o    Measles during pregnancy increases the risk of early labor, miscarriage and low birth weight infants.

Is there a treatment for measles?
There is no treatment but acetaminophen and ibuprofen may be taken to reduce a fever. People with measles also need bed rest and fluids. They also may need treatment for complications such as diarrhea, an ear infection or pneumonia.

More information can be found at the New York State Department of Health website.