The Pennsylvania Department of Health has issued a public health warning that some people may have been exposed to measles virus at a CVS Pharmacy and Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia.
Health officials report that a possible measles exposure occurred at a CVS Pharmacy located at 316 E. Lancaster Ave. in Wayne, between 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Sunday Dec. 28, 2014. The possible measles exposure also occurred on Monday, Dec. 29, 2014, at the Please Touch Museum, Memorial Hall, Fairmount Park, 4231 Avenue of the Republic, between 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
"A person who likely has measles may have exposed other people to the disease," per [pdf] the health warning notice issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Measles is an infectious disease, which can spread through coughing or sneezing by an infected person. The symptoms of measles usually start after 7 to 21 days of exposure to the virus. The symptoms of the disease may include, rash, high fever, red or watery eyes and cough.
As the possible exposure happened on Dec. 28 and Dec. 29, it may take a while for an infected person to show signs of the disease.
Health officials suggest that measles is a preventable disease if the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is given to a person within three days of exposure to the virus.
Most residents in the U.S. should have received the MMR vaccine in childhood, which means that most people are protected from the contagious disease. The vaccine is given to all kids between the age of 12 and 15 months. A second dose is given between the age of 4 and 6 years.
However, infants under the age of 12 months, who have not been vaccinated, are still not protected with the disease. Individuals who have received only one dose of the vaccine after 1957 and people who received an inactive vaccine between 1963 through to 1967 may not be protected with measles.
Health officials suggest that anyone who shows symptoms of the disease should contact their health care provider immediately. If a person is suspected of having measles then they should contact their healthcare clinic to confirm that they want to be evaluated for the disease.
