The Department of Health of Virginia (VDH) recently reported the first case of measles of the state of the year, identifying the patient when he was a child under 4 who recently traveled internationally.
While the department published limited information about the patient, he confirmed that the child lives in the Northwest region.
Health officials are coordinating efforts to identify anyone who has been exposed, according to a VDH press release.
Measles outbreaks have been declared in eight states, the most recent announced Thursday in Michigan.
Measles outbreaks now declared in 8 states, including Michigan’s first in 5 years
A patient with measles (Istock)
The Department of Health and Human Services of Michigan and the Oakland County Health Division confirmed the first case of measles in Oakland County on March 14, and the State is up to eight cases detected this year.
“This first case of measles in Virginia this year is a reminder of the ease with which this highly contagious disease can spread, particularly with international trips,” said the epidemiologist of VDH Laurie Forlano.
Forlano said that MMR vaccination remains the best defense against measles and is “safe and highly effective” to protect people and prevent outbreaks.
Two doses of the vaccine are administered to provide life protection.
“We urge the Virginians, especially those who plan to travel, to verify their vaccination status, talk to their medical care provider and get the MMR vaccine if necessary,” he said.
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A measles notice is shown on an advertisement board on the outskirts of the Gaines County Palace in Seminole, Texas. (Brandon Bell/Getty images)
Anyone who was in the permanent kaiser Caton Hill Medical Center advanced urgent attention from 10 am to 1:30 pm on Tuesday or in the Pediatrics Department of the Kaiser Permanent Medical Center Fredericksburg of the Medical Center of the noon at 5 p.m. Wednesday may have been exposed, officials said.
Those who received a vaccine containing sarampos (either measles, paper and rubella [MMR] The vaccine or a vaccine only with measles available in other countries) may be at risk of developing measles.
However, those who received two doses of a vaccine containing sarampos or were born before 1957 are protected and do not need to take any measure.
In Virginia, approximately 95% of Kindergarten are completely vaccinated.
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A child receives a vaccination in Los Angeles on March 25. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times through Getty Images)
However, babies who are too young to be vaccinated and others who are not vaccinated are susceptible to measles.
Babies from 6 months to 11 months of age who will travel internationally or an area where an outbreak is reported should receive a MMR vaccine dose before traveling.
Measles is a highly contagious disease that can easily spread through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes, according to VDH.
The symptoms usually appear in two stages, with symptoms of the first stage from seven to 14 days after the exposure is a fever of more than 101 degrees, nasal secretion, aqueous red eyes and cough.
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A box containing measles vaccines in Houston (Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle through Getty Images)
The second stage begins three to five days after the symptoms begin, when an eruption appears in the face and spreads to the rest of the body.
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People with measles are contagious from four days before the eruption appears four days after the eruption appears, according to health officials.
Angelica Stabile of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
