State health officials assist with contact tracing in Monongalia County following confirmed measles case - WV MetroNews

State Health Officer Dr. Matthew Christiansen said health workers have learned 152 people were potentially exposed to the confirmed case from Monongalia County. He said  128 of them are West Virginia residents from 30 counties and 24 are out-of-state contacts from four neighboring states.

Christiansen told MetroNews Friday state health officials have been working closely with the Monongalia County Health Department to ensure they have adequate supplies for testing measles as well as ensuring the availability of the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine in Monongalia County. Additionally, they are assisting in the contact-tracing process.

"To ensure they have the adequate resources, support, and expertise to do contact tracing around this one measles case that we have," Christiansen said. "This is the first measles case we've had in 15 years."

Measles is a highly contagious disease spread through the air by coughing or sneezing. Symptoms include a high fever, inflamed eyes, a sore throat, and a blotchy red skin rash. The symptoms do not appear until 10 to 14 days after exposure.

"It is something we're watching very closely and making sure we can stop this in its tracks and keep other vulnerable people from getting sick,"  Christiansen said.

As many as 62 of those potentially exposed don't have documentation of adequate protection against the measles and are considered high-risk. Those without evidence of immunity are being asked to quarantine until May 9 or May 10 depending on their last date of exposure.

"For those that do not have adequate documentation, we're recommending they see their health care provider to get what are called titer tests done to test antibody levels to see if they're protected or not, or to self-isolate," Christiansen said.

The measles vaccine is generally administered in two doses, with the first recommended between 12 and 15 months of age. The second dose is recommended between four and six years and, in West Virginia, is required before entering kindergarten. Those without evidence of immunity, adults born after 1957, should get at least one dose of the MMR vaccine, and two appropriately spaced doses of the MMR vaccine are recommended for healthcare personnel, college students, and international travelers.

"If they're born before 1957, we do recommend they get another dose of MMR if they don't have other evidence of protection through titer or another measure," Christiansen said. "We encourage people to reach out to their health care provider."