The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) recently reported the state’s first measles case this year, identifying patients as children under the age of 4 who have recently traveled internationally.
Although the department released limited information about patients, it confirmed that the child lives in the Northwest.
According to a VDH press release, health officials are coordinating efforts to identify anyone who may be exposed.
Eight states recently announced in Michigan have announced measles outbreaks.
Measles outbreaks are now announced in 8 states, including Michigan’s first in five years
Measles patients (iStock)
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Oakland County Health Division confirmed the first case of measles in Oakland County on March 14, with the state having detected up to eight cases this year.
“The first measles case in Virginia this year’s reminder of the extent to which this highly contagious disease is spread, especially international travel,” said Laurie Forlano, an epidemiologist at VDH.
Forlano said MMR vaccination remains the best defense against measles and is “safe and effective” in protecting people and preventing outbreaks.
Two doses of the vaccine were given to provide lifelong protection.
“We urge Virginians, especially those planning to travel, to check their vaccination status, to speak with their health care providers, and to receive an MMR vaccine if needed,” she said.
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Measles consultation is shown on a bulletin board outside the Gaines County Courthouse in Seminole, Texas. (Brendan Bell/Getty Image)
Officials say anyone who is at 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday or at 5 p.m. Wednesday, or at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Center department, may be exposed, officials said.
Those who receive a measles vaccine (measles, parotid glands and rubella or [MMR] Vaccines used in other countries or vaccines with measles only) may be at risk of developing measles.
However, those who received two doses of measles-containing vaccines or were born before 1957 were protected and did not require any action.
In Virginia, about 95% of kindergartens have been fully vaccinated.
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On March 25, a child was vaccinated in Los Angeles. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
However, too young to get vaccinated and other unvaccinated babies are susceptible to measles.
Babies between 6 months and 11 months old will travel internationally, or areas where the outbreak is reported should receive a dose of MMR vaccine before travelling.
According to VDH, measles is a highly contagious disease that can be easily transmitted through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes.
Symptoms usually occur in two stages, with symptoms greater than 101 degrees in the first stage 7 to 14 days after exposure, runny nose, red eyes and cough.
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Box containing measles vaccination in Houston (Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
The second stage begins three to five days after the symptoms begin, and a rash appears on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.
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People with measles are contagious starting from the onset of the rash to four days before the rash four days before the rash, according to health officials.
Angelica Stabile of Fox News Digital contributed to the report.
