Announcement

**Shiloh** · April 10, 2009, 10:09 PM

Re: Md. patients may have been exposed to measles

Source: http://wjz.com/marylandwire/22.0.htm...D--Measles.xml

* Sat, 11 Apr 2009 02:30:03 GMT

Md. patients may have been exposed to measles

BALTIMORE (AP) Health officials are contacting people who were treated at a Rockville hospital the same time a person with measles was in the emergency room last weekend.

Shady Grove Adventist Hospital treated an adult with measles April 5 through April 7 in the emergency room and short stay unit.

Frances Phillips, deputy secretary for public health with the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, said Friday night that measles is a serious illness and anyone who was exposed should receive preventive treatment.

People who have had immunizations against measles or had the disease are not at risk, she said.

''Three groups of patients are of concern,'' she said. ''Those with suppressed immune systems, pregnant women and any child under 15 months.''

Health officials say there have been four cases three adults and one infant of measles reported in Montgomery County since February. In 2008, there were no reported cases of measles in Maryland.

Officials believe the outbreak began with an unvaccinated adult returning from foreign travel.

Phillips say anyone who was in the emergency room or short stay unit at Shady Grove last weekend will be interviewed to assess their risk of contracting measles.

Montgomery County officials said in a news release that measles is highly contagious. The disease is spread through the air when someone with measles coughs or sneezes, and by direct contact with infected nose or throat secretions.

People with a rash that starts on the face and neck, and then spreads; high fever; runny nose; red or watery eyes; or cough should call a doctor's office or hospital emergency department for instructions before going in for evaluation, health officials said. And they should stay away from others until risk is assessed.

On the Net:

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http://www.adventisthealthcare.com/

http://www.dhmh.state.md.us/

**Shiloh** · April 13, 2009, 04:26 PM

Re: Md. patients may have been exposed to measles

Source: http://www.news8.net/news/stories/0409/612892.html

Maryland Officials: More Than 600 People Possibly Exposed to Measles
posted 04/13/09 4:04 pm

ROCKVILLE, Md. - Montgomery County (web | news) health officials say more than 600 people may have been exposed to the measles in the first outbreak of the disease in Maryland in 16 years.

Sources say the first case surfaced in the emergency room at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital in Mid-March. An unvaccinated, non-U.S. born man had caught the measles from an unvaccinated colleague who was also born outside the United States and had recently returned from China.

"We did look at that place of work. We did try to see if there was anyone who was at risk who might have been exposed. In the emergency room, of course, that's a different story," said Cindy Edwards of Montgomery County Disease Control.

Montgomery County health officials say while sitting in the ER, the man spread the disease to an eight-month-old infant who was too young for the first round of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.

A fourth case surfaced Friday night in an unvaccinated, non-U.S. born woman. Her link to the previous cases is still unknown.

"I mean the same people may be going to church, to school, to work with the same symptoms," said Dr. Gaurov Dayal of Shady Grove Adventist Hospital.

Health officials say even one case of measles is an outbreak because the disease was considered eradicated in 2000. In fact, the last measles case in Maryland was documented in 1993.

"You hear more about chicken pox and stuff than you do anything else -- but measles are scary," said Peggy Layman, a hospital patient.

Layman says she worries she's at risk because she has a weakened immune system. Others at risk include anyone unvaccinated for measles, infants younger than one years old and the elderly who were born abroad.

Hospital visitor Abayomi Adoily was born outside the United States but since he's already had the measles, he's not at risk. "I don't have to worry," he said.

Residents who have already had the measles or have had the vaccine are clear. "The good news is they can't get measles again and they can't spread it," said Edwards.

**Shiloh** · April 20, 2009, 07:35 AM

Re: Md.: measles outbreak

Source: http://www.wtop.com/?nid=25&sid=1654199

New info. to be released on measles outbreak
April 20, 2009 - 5:41am
Neal Augenstein, wtop.com

WASHINGTON - It appears the measles outbreak doesn't just affect Montgomery County, where four cases have been reported.

Public health officials from Maryland, D.C. and Virginia Monday afternoon plan to provide additional information on measles activity, including potential exposure sites, as well as dates and times.

Participating in the the 2 p.m. briefing will be Arlington County Health Director Dr. Reuben Varghese, Montgomery County Health Director Dr. Ulder Tillman and D.C. Health Director Dr. Pierre Vigilance.

Also on hand will be state health officials from Virginia, Alexandria, Fairfax County, Prince William County and Prince George's County.

Hospitals and doctors have been alerted about the outbreak and are looking for patients with fevers and rashes.

People with those symptoms asked to call ahead before showing up at the doctor or emergency room so steps can be taken to avoid putting other people at risk.

Announcement

Md.: measles outbreak

Md.: measles outbreak

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