PA: Measles cases

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Source: http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/19055870/detail.html

Kids, Dad Have Measles, Maybe From Children's Hospital
Westmoreland Family Gets Symptoms After Visiting Pittsburgh Emergency Room
UPDATED: 4:08 pm EDT March 31, 2009

PITTSBURGH -- Three new cases of the measles in western Pennsylvania -- possibly from exposure at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh -- prompted the Allegheny County and state health departments to issue a reminder to parents Tuesday.

Health officials held a news conference at the Clack Building in Pittsburgh's Strip District to talk about the new reported cases involving two preschool-age children from Westmoreland County and their father.

According to the state health department, "the most probable source of exposure is likely Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, where the family spent several hours in the waiting area of the emergency room on March 10 and March 11."

Children's Hospital is disputing the state health department's theory and pointing to a representative from the department who said at the news conference that the source of exposure is still unknown.

Both sick children are younger than 5 -- not old enough to get a measles/mumps/rubella shot -- and their 33-year-old father had only gotten a single dose of MMR vaccine as a child. According to the state health department's Web site, children entering school must have two doses of the vaccine.

Health officials aren't concerned about an outbreak, reported WTAE Channel 4's Sheldon Ingram, but anyone who is not currently immune to measles or who may have symptoms is urged to contact a doctor immediately.

Ingram reported health officials said immunization for measles is lifelong and 99 percent effective.

# To read the full vaccination schedule for students in Pennsylvania, visit www.dsf.health.state.pa.us .

 

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Re: Western PA: Measles cases

Re: Western PA: Measles cases

SOurce: http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayR...STORY=/www/story/04-03-2009/0005000762&EDATE=


Pennsylvania State Department of Health and Allegheny County Health Department Confirm Four Cases of Measles in Southwest Region

Departments Urge Public to Self-Report Suspected Measles

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Department of Health, in coordination with the Allegheny County Health Department and UPMC's Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh today confirmed they are investigating four confirmed cases of measles seen at Children's Hospital.

Exposures to measles may have occurred in the Children's Hospital Emergency Department on:

* March 10, at any time
* Between 8 p.m. on March 21 and 11 a.m. on March 22;
* Between 6 p.m. on March 25 and 5 a.m. March 26; and
* Between 5 p.m. on March 28 and 4 a.m. on March 29.

Exposure may have also occurred at the Children's Hospital 3rd floor Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) Specialty Clinic on March 23. All persons known to have been in the Emergency Department or ENT Specialty Clinic during those times are being contacted for evaluation as a precaution.

The health departments are recommending the following to anyone who came to Children's Hospital Emergency Department or ENT Specialty Clinic on the third floor of the DeSoto wing during the periods mentioned above:

* If you or your children are susceptible to measles and have had symptoms of fever and rash since the beginning of March, contact your primary health care provider immediately and let him/her know that you may have been exposed to measles.
* If you or your children are susceptible to measles and become ill with symptoms of measles one to two weeks after possible exposure, contact your primary care provider immediately and let him/her know that you may have been exposed to measles.

The following groups of individuals are susceptible to becoming infected with measles:

* Infants who are too young to have been immunized (less than one year of age);
* Persons who were vaccinated with an inactivated vaccine, which was used from 1963 through 1967, and have not been revaccinated;
* Persons born after 1957 who have only received one vaccine;
* Those who refused vaccination; and
* Those from a part of the world where there is low vaccination coverage or circulating measles.

Health care providers who suspect measles should call the Pennsylvania Department of Health at 877-PA-Health or the Allegheny County Health Department for consultation and to arrange testing.

Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus. Symptoms will begin one to two weeks after exposure and include a runny nose, watery eyes, cough and a high fever. After four days, a raised, red rash starts to spread on the face, down the body and out to the arms and legs. The rash usually lasts four to seven days.

An individual with measles can spread the virus to others for four days before and four days after the rash begins. It is spread by infected droplets during sneezing or coughing, touching contaminated objects, and direct contact with infected nasal or throat secretions. Infected droplets and secretions can remain contagious on surfaces for up to two hours.

Complications from measles can include ear infection, diarrhea and pneumonia, encephalitis (an inflammation of the brain), and even death. Measles can also cause miscarriages or premature delivery in pregnant women.

The Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) vaccine is given to toddlers when they are 12 to 15 months of age, and a second MMR vaccine is required for all Pennsylvania school children. However, individuals who have received only one dose of the vaccine, instead of the recommended two doses, may still be susceptible to the virus. The MMR vaccine can help prevent infection if it is given within three days of exposure. There is no risk in getting an additional dose of the MMR vaccine for individuals who may have already received it.

For more information about measles and the MMR vaccine, visit www.health.state.pa.us.

CONTACTS:
Stacy Kriedeman
717-787-1783

Guillermo Cole Jr.
Allegheny County Health Dept.
412-578-8004

 

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Re: Western PA: Measles cases

Re: Western PA: Measles cases

Source: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09099/961796-100.stm

Measles outbreak attributed to traveler from India
Thursday, April 09, 2009

Health officials say they have pinpointed the source of the recent measles outbreak in Western Pennsylvania -- a traveler from India who entered the country in early March.

The number of confirmed measles cases in the region stands at six, with additional probable cases awaiting confirmation, according to the state and county departments of health and UPMC Children's Hospital.

State and county investigators and staff from numerous health care facilities have contacted thousands of people who might have been exposed to measles to assess each person's risk, officials of the three agencies announced this afternoon.

While most of those exposed have been found to be immune to the disease, some non-immune people have been asked to stay home until they are cleared of risk.

Initial exposures occurred at Children's Hospital. In addition, exposures may have occurred at the following locations and times:

Children's Hospital Emergency Department and waiting area, between 6 p.m. March 27 and 3 a.m. March 28, and between 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. March 28.

Alle-Kiski Hospital, Emergency Department, main lobby and ground floor public areas, between 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. March 28.

EMS-I Conference at Seven Springs Mountain Resort, in the Snowflake Room and the main dining room area, between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. March 26.

Allegheny County Port Authority bus routes: 28X (Airport Flyer) -- March 24, between 10 a.m. and noon; March 28, between 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

33X (West Busway All Stops) -- March 27, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

71A -- March 24, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; March 27, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Health officials believe there is no current risk of exposure at any of these places.

 

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Re: Western PA: Measles cases

Re: Western PA: Measles cases

Source: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/lifestyles/health/s_620135.html

Health officials update times of measles exposure
By The Tribune-Review Friday, April 10, 2009

The county and state health departments today expanded the times when people in Western Pennsylvania might have been exposed to a measles outbreak.

? Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Emergency Department:

? Any time March 10

? Between 8 p.m. March 21 and 11 a.m. March 22

? Between 6 p.m. March 25 and 5 a.m. March 26

? Between 6 p.m. March 27 and 3 a.m. March 28

? Between 2:30 p.m. March 28 and 4 a.m. March 29

? Children's Hospital Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) and Specialty Clinics on March 23

? Alle-Kiski Hospital Emergency Department, main lobby and ground floor public areas between 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. March 28

? EMS-I Conference at Seven Springs Mountain Resort, in the Snowflake Room and the main dining area between 9:30 am. and 3:30 p.m. March 26

? Allegheny County Port Authority bus routes:

? 28X (Airport Flyer) between 10 a.m. and noon March 24, and between 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. March 28

? 33X (West Busway All Stops) between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. March 27

? 71A between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. March 24, and between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. March 27

A traveler from India brought the measles here in early March. It has infected at least six people.

People who suspect they or their children are infected should call their doctor. Alert the office in advance to avoid spreading it to other people.

Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that causes fever, cough, pain, a runny nose and, eventually, a rash. In rare cases it can be deadly.

Most school-age children receive vaccines to give them immunity against measles. Most people older than 50 already have immunity.

 

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Re: Western PA: Measles cases

Re: Western PA: Measles cases

Source: http://www.tribune-democrat.com/local/local_story_100234341.html?keyword=topstory

Measles linked to EMS conference
By KATHY MELLOTT
The Tribune-Democrat

EBENSBURG ? Emergency personnel from across the region who attended a conference at Seven Springs Mountain Resort may have come in contact with an individual infected with measles.

In an alert issued Friday, the state Health Department said at least six measles cases in western Pennsylvania have been traced to a traveler from India who attended the Somerset County conference March 26.

Officials suspect there are other measles cases that have yet to be confirmed.

The person from India, who has not been identified, was in the Seven Springs Snowflake Room and the main dining room between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on that date.

While no numbers could be confirmed, emergency services officials from Cambria and Somerset counties said they are confident some of those in attendance were local emergency responders.

?Almost definitely people from Cambria County were there,? said Brian Feist, executive director of Cambria County Department of Emergency Services. ?It?s an annual event. That?s a big thing with our ambulance services.?

The training was sponsored by Emergency Medical Services Institute of Allegheny County, a multicounty out-of-hospital medical services oversight agency and a division of the state Health Department.

Some Somerset County EMS personnel would have attended the conference, said Rick Lohr, executive director of Somerset County Department of Emergency Services.

?I?m sure there are people who attended, but none of my staff went,? Lohr said.

Along with one day at the EMS conference, the traveler also visited the emergency rooms of UPMC Children?s Hospital and the Alle-Kiski Medical Center. The person also traveled on several public transit buses in Pittsburgh in late March.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention?s Web site says the disease can cause more serious problems ? such as ear infections, pneumonia, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and even death.

The CDC says that although measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, it still is common in many other countries. Worldwide, 20 million cases of measles occur each year.

The virus can be imported by foreign visitors or returning travelers who are not fully protected against the disease.

Close to 90 percent of the measles cases reported this year in the United States either were acquired abroad or linked to imported cases.

Measles symptoms include fever, rash, cough, runny nose or red watery eyes, said Stacy Kriedeman, state Health Department spokeswoman.

?We want people to make sure they take notice so that if they have any of these symptoms they contact their primary care doctor,? she said.

 

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Re: PA: Measles cases

Source: http://cbs3.com/topstories/measles.bucks.county.2.1019270.html

May 26, 2009 3:31 pm US/Eastern
Multiple Measles Cases Confirmed In Bucks County
Incidents Isolated; No Public Threat
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―


Health officials have confirmed three unvaccinated individuals, including a young child, have contracted measles in Bucks County.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health was notified after an unvaccinated child was hospitalized with a case of measles.

Two additional individuals who had close contact with the child were also confirmed to have contracted the disease, but no testing was done. Both those affected had not received vaccinations against measles.

Officials believe the group was exposed to measles locally as none of those involved have had contact with a recent traveler.

The child was treated and released from an area hospital. All three affected by the outbreak were isolated and no additional cases are expected. Health officials said there is no current public health threat.

Further details on the cases were not immediately available.

Health officials said there have been nine confirmed cases of measles in Pennsylvania this year alone.

Individuals throughout the Philadelphia-region are warned to be on the lookout for the symptoms of measles, which include fever, rash, watery eyes and a cough.

If you know of any suspected cases of measles, please call 1-877-PA Health or visit www.dsf.health.state.pa.us