The Massachusetts Division of Public Well being (DPH) is alerting residents of a case of measles that was identified in a global customer who traveled by Boston to Amsterdam utilizing public transportation on Saturday, June 22 whereas infectious. The traveler was current in public places that might have resulted in publicity to different folks.Measles is extra simply unfold than nearly another illness. The virus that causes measles lives within the nostril and throat and is sprayed into the air when an contaminated particular person sneezes, coughs or talks. It will probably keep within the air for as much as two hours. Different folks close by can then inhale the virus.“Measles is a extremely contagious airborne illness that has seen a rise in instances and outbreaks worldwide,” mentioned Public Well being Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD. “People who find themselves not vaccinated are at better threat of an infection. The easiest way for folks to guard themselves from this illness is to ensure they’re vaccinated.”DPH urges all those that have no idea their measles immunization standing to get vaccinated with at the very least one dose of the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine. Measles vaccine given inside 72 hours of publicity might forestall measles illness, and vaccination past this window will present safety from subsequent exposures. DPH, native well being departments, and healthcare suppliers are working to contact people at excessive threat for publicity to this traveler. Nevertheless, exposures on public transportation make identification of high-risk contacts difficult. These uncovered who would not have proof of immunity to measles could also be topic to quarantine for as much as 21 days following the publicity.Early signs of measles happen 10 days to 2 weeks after publicity and should resemble a chilly (with fever, cough, runny nostril, and pink eyes) and a rash happens on the pores and skin two to 4 days after the preliminary signs develop. The rash normally seems first on the top after which strikes downward. The rash usually lasts a number of days after which disappears in the identical order. Folks with measles could also be contagious as much as 4 days earlier than the rash seems and for 4 days after the day the rash seems.Measles may be very contagious. People who find themselves not immune and visited any of the places on the required dates and occasions beneath could also be in danger for creating measles. Anybody who visited these places on any of those dates through the occasions listed is suggested to contact their well being care supplier to verify their immunization standing.Exposures to this particular person might have occurred on the following places and occasions:Saturday, June 22, 202411:40 a.m. Dartmouth Coach bus line departure from Hanover, NHDartmouth School to Boston, MA arriving at Logan Airport (Boston, MA) at roughly 2:40 p.m.2:40 p.m. to eight:40 p.m. Terminal E at Logan Airport, Boston, MAFlight KLM6016 from Boston to Amsterdam departing from Gate E5Those who have been uncovered and start to develop signs of measles ought to name their healthcare supplier earlier than visiting an workplace, clinic, or emergency division. Visiting a healthcare facility might put others in danger and must be prevented. If you happen to do want to go to a well being care facility, please make sure that to put on a masks to scale back attainable transmission.Individuals who have had measles, or who’ve been vaccinated towards measles per US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) suggestions are thought of immune. The CDC suggestions are:Kids. Kids ought to obtain their first dose of Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine at 12-15 months. Faculty-aged kids want two doses of MMR vaccine.Adults. Adults ought to have at the very least one dose of MMR vaccine. Sure teams at excessive threat want two doses of MMR, equivalent to worldwide vacationers, well being care staff, and school college students. Adults born within the US earlier than 1957 are thought of proof against measles from previous exposures.Anybody who has had measles prior to now or has obtained two doses of the vaccine is unlikely to develop measles even when uncovered.For added info, contact your native well being division or DPH at 617-983-6800. To study extra about measles, go to DPH’s web site.
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