The Ohio Department of Health confirmed a case of measles in a resident that traveled through the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.
The Kentucky Department for Public Health partnered with its Ohio counterpart to identify those potentially exposed to the confirmed case of measles.
The individual traveled through the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport on January 27 between 5:00pm and 8:00pm and January 29 between 8:30pm and 11:30pm.
Dr. Steven Stack is the Kentucky Department for Public Health Commissioner. He said measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus.
“Early symptoms of measles are typical of many upper respiratory illnesses – fever, cough, watery eyes and runny nose – and proceed to the characteristic rash three to five days after symptoms begin.”
He said those who have developed symptoms and were at the airport during possible exposure should isolate and get tested.
Testing can be done through medical providers, urgent care, or the emergency department. Dr. Stack said that if individuals do get tested, they should not arrive at a health care facility without advance notice. This is to prevent further exposure.
In the United States, the measles vaccination is administered in two doses. This is in combination with the mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR). The first dose is to those aged 12 months through 15 months with a second MMR dose at age 4 through 6 years. These two doses should be about 97% effective in preventing measles if exposed.
At this time, there are no confirmed cases of measles reported in Kentucky. However, the CDC has confirmed at least 23 cases of measles in the U.S. since the end of December.
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