Montgomery County health officials announced that two children have been diagnosed with measles.
Neither of the children received vaccinations before they came to the United States on August 24. Officials advise those who came in contact with the sick individuals may have been exposed to measles. This includes people who visited the Suburban Washington Resettlement Center in Silver Spring on August 29. The children were taken there prior to the onset of the illness, but while the disease was contagious.
People who have had measles, received two doses of the measles vaccine, or were born in the U.S. before 1957 are not considered at risk. However, health officials recommend that parents of infants, unvaccinated pregnant women and unvaccinated people with weak immune systems should talk to their doctor. A medicine, Immune Globulin, may prevent measles if given within six days of exposure and may be recommended to those who may have been exposed.
Measles is a highly contagious virus that can be spread through the air via coughing or sneezing. It has been virtually eliminated in this country due to vaccinations, but cases can arise when unvaccinated enter the U.S. or visit foreign countries where measles occurs in the population.
Those who may have been exposed can call Montgomery County Health and Human Services’ Disease Control office at (240) 777-1755 to determine their risk of contracting measles.
