The county public health department announced they have confirmed the first case of measles in the county since 2018.
The health department says this case is confirmed on a local child, and the risk of local transmission is considered low, with no additional cases at this time.
The health department shared information about measles, saying it spreads through coughs or sneezes, lingering in the air for up to an hour. Symptoms typically appear within 7 to 21 days after exposure, first beginning with a fever, cough, and runny nose. Other symptoms begin, including tiny white spots inside the mouth, red spots on the skin, and a rash first on the face and then the rest of the body.
Dr. Penny Borenstin, county health officer, says: “This case is a stark reminder that measles, though declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, can still reappear when vaccination rates decline.” The health department recommends the MMR vaccine, 97% effective after two doses.
