(Jefferson City, MO) — The state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) says a case of measles has been confirmed in a New Madrid County adult in southeast Missouri.
There is no indication of widespread public exposure. The department says exposure is believed to be limited, and known contacts are being identified and contacted. According to DHSS, the case is not linked to the prior Missouri measles case or exposures reported.
On Sunday, DHSS reported someone from out of state with a confirmed case of measles visited the St. Louis Aquarium and a restaurant on April 30th, possibly exposing others to the virus.
On April 18, Missourinet reported the state’s first confirmed case of measles this year in
southern Missouri’s Taney County. A child who had recently traveled internationally came down with the measles.
The highly contagious virus typically begins with fever, cough, runny nose and red and watery eyes with symptoms appearing 7-14 days after contact with the virus. Tiny white spots may appear inside the mouth 2-3 days after symptoms begin. Measles rash appears 3 to 5 days after the first symptoms. It usually begins as flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline. They then spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet.
The department says people with possible exposures should watch for the symptoms of measles for 21 days from the date of exposure and report to their local public health agency if symptoms appear.
One person with measles can easily pass it on to nine out of 10 people around them who are unvaccinated or do not have natural immunity. Measles can cause severe health complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and death.
DHSS says the best way to prevent getting sick is to be immunized with two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, which is primarily administered as the combination measles-mumps-rubella or MMR vaccine. According to the department, two doses of the MMR vaccine provide 97% protection from measles infections.
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