State health officials: 152 potentially exposed to measles after Monongalia County case

Children who are not vaccinated are more likely to get diseases like measles and whooping cough, the CDC points out on its website. Outbreaks of these diseases have occurred recently, especially in communities with low vaccination rates. (Getty Images)

State health officials say they’re continuing to monitor for disease transmission after West Virginia’s first measles case in 15 years was confirmed earlier this week in Monongalia County. 

The West Virginia Department of Health said Friday it has learned of an additional 152 people — 128 West Virginia residents from 30 counties and 24 people from out of state — who were potentially exposed to measles in relation to the Monongalia County case.  

The patient, an adult in Monongalia County who was undervaccinated and had recently traveled internationally, developed symptoms of the disease and sought treatment at an outpatient clinic of WVU Hospitals last week. Lab work confirmed the case Sunday. The patient did not require hospitalization and was recovering at home. 

No additional information has been released about the patient. 

Of the 152 people potentially exposed to the virus, 62 lack documentation of protection against measles and are considered high risk, state health officials said Friday. The state Bureau for Public Health said it is “strongly recommending” that people exposed to the virus with no evidence of immunity quarantine until May 9 or 10, 2024, depending on their last date of exposure. 

A spokesperson for the Monongalia County Health Department said Friday the health department has reached out to all potential contacts of the case and has spoken with most of them. So far, no additional cases of the disease have been found. 

Before Sunday, the state’s last documented case of measles was in 2009.

Measles is highly contagious and can especially be dangerous for children under 5, adults over age 20, pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems, according to health officials. Common complications of the disease are ear infections and diarrhea. It can also cause serious complications like pneumonia and encephalitis. 

Vaccines for measles are typically given in two doses. 

West Virginia school children have a high rate of vaccination coverage for measles, partly because of the state’s strict school vaccination laws. The state is among five that allow only medical exemptions to school vaccine mandates. 

For the 2022-2023 school year, 95.6% of West Virginia kindergarten students had been vaccinated against measles, according to the state Department of Health. Vaccination coverage among adults is more challenging to determine, state health officials said. U.S states do not track vaccination coverage among adults for the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.

People born before 1957 and those who have laboratory evidence of immunity or disease are considered to have presumptive immunity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, before vaccines were available for measles, mumps and rubella, nearly everyone was infected with them during childhood. 

In a release, state health officer Dr. Matthew Christiansen urged 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 healthcare provider to determine your level of immunity.”

Vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella are available through health care providers and local health departments throughout the state. 

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