Public health officials in Michigan have confirmed a new case of measles infection involving a patient who had recently traveled overseas.
The Detroit Health Department said a man was admitted to the emergency room of the Children's Hospital of Michigan on Tuesday after coming down with the measles. The patient likely contracted the disease while traveling abroad, though the health agency did not specify where he had been to.
Preventing Measles Transmission
Officials advised visitors at the Children's Hospital emergency room, who may have been exposed to the infectious disease, to have themselves vaccinated immediately. This is to prevent the virus from potentially spreading to other people.
"We are encouraging anyone who was at the emergency room at Children's Hospital on the afternoon of July 16 to make sure they have been vaccinated," said Ruta Sharangpani, acting Medical Director of the Detroit Health Department.
"In general, the vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and others from this disease."
The patient had also visited a doctor's office in Macomb County before being admitted to the hospital. Patients at the clinic have also been notified about a possible measles exposure.
Michigan already has 44 confirmed cases of measles infection since March, according to the state's Department of Health and Human Services. About 40 of these cases were found in Oakland County, one in Wayne County, and one in Detroit.
Symptoms Of Measles
People who may have been exposed to the infection in both areas have been told to watch out for symptoms within the next 21 days. The disease is considered a highly infectious respiratory illness that can easily be transmitted through sneezing or coughing.
Infected individuals may develop symptoms such as cough, fever, red eyes, and runny nose within seven to 14 days after contracting the measles virus. These typically last between three to five days. A rash will eventually appear throughout the patient's body, which often lasts between four and seven days.
If left untreated, measles can cause patients to develop pneumonia or inflammation of the brain.
Sufferers are strongly advised to call their physician first before heading to a clinic or emergency room. This is to allow doctors to take the necessary precautions to keep other patients from getting exposed to the disease.
Health officials also recommend getting vaccinated against measles within three days after exposure. Immune-globulin injections are also available, but these should be taken within six days after getting exposed to the virus.
For more information, Detroit residents can contact the city's Health Department Immunizations Clinic at 313-876-4667. Health workers can help determine whether there is a risk of infection or if patients need additional treatment.
Other Preventive Measures
To keep measles transmission to a minimum, health experts are proposing several "no-fly" measures.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention implements a Do Not Board List, which identifies individuals who may have contracted an infectious disease. The agency then contacts the authorities to these people from traveling to other areas.
In May, eight people believed to have been exposed to measles were kept from boarding a plane after being placed on the CDC's Do Not Board List.
Martin Cetron, director of the CDC's Global Migration and Quarantine Division, said the measure is an effective deterrent for disease transmission.
Meanwhile, German health officials are already considering handing out fines to parents who will refuse to have their children vaccinated against measles.
