Travelers who were present in the customs and baggage areas of Detroit Metropolitan Airport's North Terminal from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. on March 6 are warned to look out for possible symptoms of measles.
Adults and children showing signs of the disease should seek immediate medical attention before suffering from serious complications, including hospitalization, pneumonia, and death.
This public health alert has been issued March 14 by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) upon confirming that an infected passenger arrived in the airport facility during the specified hours on Tuesday, last week.
According to state health officials, the passenger is already under recovery after being hospitalized in Washtenaw Country. Such counts as the state's first case of measles for the year 2018.
"Individuals may be contagious for a few days before they present with symptoms, which increases the potential of exposing others to the infection," MDHHS cautions in an official statement.
Common Signs And Symptoms Of Measles
Measles symptoms do not appear instantaneously, states the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
They begin showing around seven to 14 days following infection, and within this frame, the patient may experience high fever, cough, runny nose, and conjunctivitis.
Two to three days from the onset of symptoms, Koplik Spots start to grow inside the mouth. When checked in the mirror, these white spots are barely visible because of their tiny size.
These early signs could manifest simultaneously with rashes, the most obvious indicator of measles. They initially break out around the facial area then spread toward the lower extremities, from the neck to the trunk and arms, to the legs and feet.
Rashes associated with the disease are accompanied by a fever of more than 104 degrees Fahrenheit. They look like red and flat spots, with a small bump growing on top some of them. As the patient's fever disappears, the spots also fade.
Treatment For Measles Infection
There are no known treatments for measles. Health care providers can only ensure proper nutrition, sufficient water intake, and oral rehydration fluids to replace important elements that are excreted through diarrhea or vomiting, explains the World Health Organization.
Although antibiotics cannot cure the disease itself, they can treat its complications, such as pneumonia and eye or ear infections.
Best Course Of Protection From Measles Outbreak
Families living within the state must see their doctor "right away" for a vaccination update, urged MDHHS Chief Medical Executive Eden Wells. This will ensure that every member of the community has optimal protection in case of a measles outbreak.
A single dose is recommended for adults with no prior measles immunization, and two doses for children. The first is given at 12 months, and the second before the child starts attending kindergarten.
