Five Maryland residents were diagnosed with measles after recent travel out of state, the state health department said.
Anyone who visited the Carroll Hospital Center Emergency Department waiting room between in 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. July 13 may have been exposed.
What to do if you’re exposed
If you think you may have been exposed, health departments recommend finding out if you have been fully vaccinated against measles. Vaccine records can be obtained through your local health department or healthcare provider.
If you have been fully vaccinated, the risk of contracting measles is relatively low, they said. Those who haven’t should monitor for symptoms and call their local health department or healthcare provider with any questions.
Immunocompromised people who may have been exposed should also check with their doctor, especially if symptoms start to develop.
Anyone who has had two doses of a measles containing vaccine or was born before 1957 is considered protected and does not need to take any action. If you have received only one dose, you are most likely protected, but health officials advise talking to a healthcare provider about receiving a second dose for full immunity.
People who are at risk and have been exposed should watch out for symptoms for 21 days after the exposure. If symptoms appear, isolate immediately and then call your healthcare provider. If it is necessary to see the healthcare provider in person or go to the emergency room, call ahead of time so they can protect staff and other patients.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of measles develop over two stages.
The first stage typically begins seven to 14 days after exposure. Here are some common symptoms:
- Fever over 101 degrees
- Runny nose
- Red, watery eyes
- Cough
The second stage starts three to five days after the initial symptoms begin and is marked by a rash on the face, which then spreads to the rest of the body.
A person with measles is contagious from four days before this rash appears until four days after it appeared.
Preventing measles
Measles is considered highly contagious and can be spread through the air when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It can also cause serious health complications or even death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
But it can be prevented with the MMR vaccine, the CDC said. Nine out of 10 unvaccinated people who are exposed to measles will become infected.
The Maryland Department of Health recommended that all who are eligible get fully vaccinated against measles and emphasized that the MMR vaccine is covered for Maryland residents through health insurance or free through the Maryland Vaccine Program and Vaccines for Children Program for those without insurance.
