Third case of measles reported in Maryland

MARYLAND – A third resident of Maryland has been diagnosed with measles, according to the Maryland Department of Health. Health officials advised people who visited three Pikesville sites, including two grocery stores, to have been exposed to the potentially deadly virus.

News of the third case of measles in the region was announced Wednesday, a day after state health authorities confirmed that the second resident of Maryland had been diagnosed.

"It is worrying that three cases of measles have been identified in Maryland in such a short time," said Frances B. Phillips, Under-Secretary-General for Public Health. "The measles virus can spread very easily between unvaccinated people, and many epidemics have occurred in several other parts of the country.Vaccination is the best way to fight other infections. Maryland to ensure that they are up to date -date on immunizations against measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases. "

Measles is a viral infection whose symptoms appear 10 to 14 days after exposure. Fever, red eyes, runny nose, cough and red rash are the most common manifestations. In some cases, especially in children, measles can cause ear infection, diarrhea, pneumonia, swelling of the brain and death.

He can be warned with a vaccine.

The people most at risk for measles complications are pregnant women, infants under one year old and people with compromised immune systems. Those born in the United States before 1957, who have had measles or who received two doses of measles vaccine are considered immunized.

Anyone in these places in Pikesville may have been exposed to measles, health experts from Maryland reported on Wednesday, April 17:

• 4000 Old Court Road, Sunday, April 14 from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm
• Market Maven at 4:30 pm Reisterstown Street on Sunday, April 14 from 11:45 am to 2:30 pm
• Seven Mile Market at 201 Reisterstown Street, Sunday, April 14 from 12:45 pm to 3:15 pm.

Authorities confirmed the first case of measles to a Maryland resident on April 5 and warned anyone who visited an office building at 4000 Old Court Road in Pikesville from 9:00 to 13:00. Tuesday, April 2, there could have been an exposure to measles.

The second person diagnosed with measles had contact with the first person diagnosed in a home, officials said. According to the Maryland Department of Health, both individuals contracted the infection out of the country into a measles outbreak area.

Coughing, sneezing, and mouth secretions can spread the virus to unvaccinated people. Experts say that it can stay in the air until two o'clock. A person with measles is contagious four days before the rash and four days after it appears.

The Maryland Department of Health provided Baltimore County health officials with 1,200 doses of measles vaccine at a vaccination clinic from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Wednesday, April 17 at Bais Yaakov Girls School on Smith Avenue in Mount Washington.

People who think they have been exposed to measles should call a health care provider before going to a doctor's office or an emergency department. Special arrangements can be made to ensure that other patients and medical staff are protected against possible infection.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 555 individual cases of measles were confirmed in 20 states between 1 January and 11 April 2019, making it the second largest number of cases in the United States. United since measles was eliminated in 2000.

The states that reported measles cases to the CDC in 2019 are as follows: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey , New York, Oregon, Texas and Washington.

Unvaccinated international travelers are thought to have brought measles back from countries such as Israel, Ukraine and the Philippines, where large outbreaks of measles occur, reports the CDC.

The Maryland Department of Health recommends the following for people who may have been exposed to measles:

• Do not do anything if you are in good health and you know that you have received two doses of MMR vaccine.
• Call your doctor immediately to tell him that you may have been exposed to measles if your immune system is currently weakened by the disease or medication, even if you have received two doses of MMR vaccine. You might need a medicine called immunoglobulin.
• Call your doctor immediately if you know that you have not received two doses of MMR vaccine or if you are unsure whether you have received two doses of MMR vaccine; you might need a dose of MMR vaccine or a medicine called immunoglobulin
• Watch for any symptoms of measles, such as fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and rash.

Get more information on measles from the Maryland Department of Health and the CDC.