Measles test comes back negative
Feb. 29—GUILFORD COUNTY — Public health officials investigating a possible infection of measles in an adult resident of Guilford County say tests on the person have come back negative.
"There are currently no confirmed cases of measles in Guilford County and in North Carolina," according to a statement released by the Guilford County Health Department late Thursday.
"We are fortunate this potential case was not positive," said county health department director Dr. Iulia Vann. "I encourage all Guilford County residents to receive the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. This is the best prevention for measles and is both safe and highly effective."
The health department advises that anyone 1 year old and older should be vaccinated against measles. If you have questions about your vaccine status or immunity, check your immunization record or contact your health care provider.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease marked by fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a rash of tiny, red spots. The virus can cause serious health complications and death.
Widespread use of the measles vaccine since the early 1960s has led to a greater than 99% reduction in measles cases. Outbreaks are rare in the United States, though reported cases have spiked from 58 for all of 2023 to 35 already this year. Cases have been reported in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington and New York City, according to the health department.
Measles spreads when infected people exhale, cough and sneeze the viruses — it can linger in the air and on surfaces for two hours, infecting numerous people. An infected person can be contagious for four days before symptoms appear, including the telltale rash, fever, cough, runny nose and watery eyes.
While most people who catch measles recover without significant problems, an unvaccinated person who catches measles has about a 20% chance of being hospitalized, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.
About 5% of infected children get pneumonia, and about 1 in every 1,000 will develop brain swelling, which can cause deafness or intellectual disability. Between 1 and 3 of every 1,000 infected children who weren't vaccinated will die from the disease, the CDC says.
Vaccinated people rarely catch the disease, and if they do, their symptoms are less severe and they are less contagious, the CDC says.
Most people don't need a booster measles vaccine, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
If you were born after 1957 one dose of measles vaccine is sufficient to be considered protected from infection, the CDC reports.
Certain adults may need two doses if they are going to be in a setting that poses a high risk for measles transmission. Examples include students at post-high school education institutions, healthcare personnel, overseas travelers and people who public health authorities determine are at increased risk for getting measles during an outbreak.
pjohnson@hpenews.com — 336-888-3528 — @HPEpaul
