Residents of Mercer, McDowell counties may have been exposed to measles
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CHARLESTON, WV (WVNS) – Mercer and McDowell counties are among the 30 counties in the state where some residents could have been potentially exposed to measles, according to the West Virginia Department of Health.
State health officials are monitoring the transmission of measles following the state’s first documented case since 2009, department officials.
After confirming the first positive case on April 22, state health leaders have learned of 152 additional people who were potentially exposed, 128 West Virginia residents from 30 counties and 24 out-of-state contacts from four neighboring states.
Of those exposed in West Virginia, 62 of them are considered high risk because they lack adequate documentation of protection, according to state health officials.
The Bureau for Public Health is strongly recommending those exposed individuals with no evidence of immunity against the virus to quarantine until May 9 or 10, 2024, depending on their last date of exposure.
Counties impacted include Berkeley, Braxton, Brooke, Doddridge, Gilmer, Grant, Greenbrier, Hampshire, Hancock, Kanawha, Logan, Marion, Marshall, Mason, McDowell, Mercer, Mineral, Monongalia, Ohio, Pendleton, Pleasants, Preston, Putnam, Randolph, Roane, Summers, Taylor, Wetzel and Wood.
Ms. West Virginia USA reads to local elementary school students
All public school students are required to have the measles vaccination.
The West Virginia Legislature recently passed a bill which would have allowed private schools to admit unvaccinated students, but Governor Jim Justice vetoed the bill.
Private School Review reported that, during the 2024 school year, nearly 14, 500 students in West Virginian attended a private school.
Homeschooled students are not required to be vaccinated.
A recent Lending Tree study showed West Virginia has one of the highest rates of homeschooled students in the nation.
Del. Brandon Steele, a Republican from Raleigh County, said on Monday, April 29, 2024, that, following Governor Justice’s veto of the bill relaxing vaccination requirements for private schools, West Virginia continues to have one of the strongest vaccination requirements in the U.S.
Del. Steele, who voted in favor of the bill, said it is unlikely the Legislature could take additional action regarding vaccines, in light of the reported measles case.
“We don’t anticipate West Virginia changing law, because West Virginia’s already got the most restrictive law in the country, when it comes to vaccinations, so I don’t think this will have much of an impact on that,” said Del. Steele.
The Bureau for Public Health has been working closely with the Monongalia County Health Department to ensure they have adequate supplies for testing measles as well as ensuring availability of the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine to Monongalia County. As state health leaders work with the Monongalia Health Department to conduct contact tracing and other control activities, Dr. Matthew Christiansen, State Health Officer, urges West Virginians with questions about their immunity to get tested.
“Measles is a serious disease that can cause severe symptoms especially in the most vulnerable kids and adults who are immunocompromised,” Christiansen said. “The MMR vaccine is the best line of defense against measles. If you are unsure about your vaccination history, you can either get vaccinated or a blood test can be ordered through your local health care provider to determine your level of immunity.”
The measles vaccine is typically given in two doses with the first recommended between 12 and 15 months of age. The second dose is recommended between four and six years and, in West Virginia, is required before entering Kindergarten. Unless they have other evidence of immunity, adults born after 1956 should get at least one dose of MMR vaccine, and two appropriately spaced doses of MMR vaccines are recommended for health care personnel, college students and international travelers.
MMR vaccines are available through health care providers and local health departments across the state.
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