UH OH: More Than 100 Individuals in Humboldt Exposed to Measles Last Week (But Most are Likely Immune, Says DHHS) | Lost Coast Outpost

Press release from Humboldt County Health and Human Services:

Public health staff have come into contact with at least 109 people who were exposed to measles after a person with the virus visited two sites in Eureka late last week, and who could have been exposed to measles but could not be contacted. We are asking anyone who hasn’t done so to call us. 707-268-2182.

Through interviews, vaccine records, and in some cases immune testing, the majority of people known to have been exposed are likely to have immunity to measles, with 10 receiving post-exposure prophylaxis (72 hours after exposure). (can be vaccinated within the next few days) was administered.

On Friday, May 10th, the Humboldt County Health and Human Services Department announced that individuals who visited the Days Inn by Wyndham 270 Fifth Street in Eureka between 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 9th and Friday, May 10th at 3:00 a.m. Between 2:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. on Friday, May 10, the Providence St. Joseph Hospital Emergency Department, 2700 Dolbeer St. in Eureka, received a possible measles infection.

If you were in one of these locations during the hours listed above and have not been in contact with public health staff, please call 707-268-2182, whether or not you have symptoms. A public health nurse can assess your potential exposure, help determine your immune status, and provide additional information.

People who contract the virus after being infected last week will become contagious anywhere from early Friday morning until May 31st. If you think you may have measles, contact your health care provider or public health agency. Do not physically go to a medical facility.
According to the California Department of Public Health, measles is a highly contagious virus that lives in the mucus of an infected person’s nose and throat. It can be transmitted to others through coughing or sneezing. The virus can survive in airspace for up to an hour after an infected person leaves the area. breathing contaminated air or touching infected surfacesYou can become infected if you touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.

Symptoms can take 7 to 21 days to appear after exposure to measles, and symptoms usually begin with a fever that lasts several days, followed by a cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis, and rash. The rash usually first appears on the face, hairline, and behind the ears, then affects the rest of the body. Infected people are usually contagious from about 4 days before the rash begins until 4 days after the rash begins. Children under the age of 5 and people who are pregnant or have a weakened immune system are most at risk for serious illness and complications from measles.

Measles is a vaccine-preventable disease. The measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine is 97% effective at preventing disease. For more information about vaccines, contact your health care provider and visit: cdc.gov/measles/vaccination.html.

Digital vaccination records for most children and youth are available through the California Department of Public Health’s Digital Vaccine Records. myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov.