The Mississippi State Department of Health issued the following statement.
The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) has concluded its
investigation of potential exposure to measles from a Tennessee traveler
to Mississippi between April 9th and 11th.
MSDH’s follow-up investigation did not identify any measles cases in Mississippi from exposure to this traveler.
“The
incubation period for developing measles from exposure to this traveler
has passed. Any potential measles exposure
would have developed symptoms by now,” said MSDH State Health Officer
Dr. Thomas Dobbs. “We are grateful that, because of our strong
immunization laws, Mississippians were protected from infection. More
than 99 percent of Mississippi school-aged children have
received a complete dose of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)
vaccine.”
Dobbs added that there are currently several active outbreaks of measles throughout the nation and in other countries,
and measles is spreading rapidly in unvaccinated groups.
“This could easily happen again, so it is important that all Mississippians make sure that they are up to date on
their measles vaccinations to avoid future risks,” he said.
Measles
is a serious respiratory disease of the lungs and breathing tubes that
starts with a high fever, followed
soon after by a cough, runny nose and red eyes. On the third to seventh
day of illness, a rash of tiny, red spots appears. The rash starts at
the head and spreads to the rest of the body. Symptoms usually appear
about 11 days after exposure with a range of
seven to 21 days.
Measles
spreads when a person infected with the measles virus breathes, coughs
or sneezes. It is very contagious,
with the virus lingering in a room where a person with measles has been
for up to two hours. Measles can be serious. It can lead to pneumonia,
encephalitis (swelling of the brain) and death. Young children are at
higher risk for complications, especially those
under 12 months old who are too young to receive the measles
vaccination.
For more information on measles, visit
HealthyMS.com/measles.
Follow MSDH by email and social media at HealthyMS.com/connect.
2 comments:
Hattiesburg is so messed up that even the measles won't go there.
Amazing that the elusive measles man was able to go to so many food establishments despite the fact that loss of appetite is associated with measles. Also it must not be THAT bad if he’s able to travel and be out and about as much was reported. Very interesting that TN hasn’t recorded a case of measles this year. So was this person even real?
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