West Virginia confirms first measles case since 2009

A West Virginia hospital has confirmed the primary identified case of measles within the state since 2009, well being officers stated Monday.

The Monongalia County Well being Division stated WVU Drugs alerted officers Sunday that an grownup affected person residing within the county examined constructive for the viral an infection. Well being officers haven’t pinpointed precisely the place and the way the affected person was uncovered however stated the individual had lately traveled overseas.

The affected person—who was partially vaccinated towards measles, having acquired one in every of two doses—had developed signs, sought medical therapy by the WVU Drugs system and was instructed to remain house whereas awaiting lab outcomes.

One of many world’s most contagious illnesses, measles can result in probably critical problems.

Dr. Brian H. Huggins, the county well being division’s incoming well being officer, stated the division is working with the hospital to determine individuals who got here into contact with the affected person.

“We actually need to emphasize that that is an sickness that folks ought to take very critically,” Huggins stated.

Nationwide, measles instances this yr already are practically double the whole for all of 2023, elevating well being specialists’ considerations in regards to the preventable, once-common childhood virus. Well being officers have confirmed measles instances in at the very least 17 different states thus far this yr, together with instances in New York Metropolis, Philadelphia and Chicago.

The U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention documented 113 instances as of April 5. There have been seven outbreaks and most U.S. instances—73%—are linked to these flare-ups.

Nonetheless, the depend is decrease than some current years: 2014 noticed 667 instances and 2019 had 1,274.

Most U.S. instances are introduced into the nation by individuals who traveled the place measles is way extra frequent.

Huggins stated West Virginia has not seen a case since 2009 largely on account of its strict college vaccination legal guidelines. West Virginia is one in every of a handful of states that enables solely medical exemptions to vaccine necessities.

Final month, Republican Gov. Jim Justice broke with West Virginia’s GOP-majority Legislature to veto a invoice that may have allowed some college students who do not attend conventional public faculties or do not take part in sports activities and different group extracurricular actions to be exempt from vaccinations sometimes required for kids.

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