Philadelphia confirms at least 4 measles cases, warns about addition exposures at day care and hospitals
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Philadelphia Department of Public Health reported additional measles exposures with at least four confirmed cases Thursday afternoon after warning the public of a possible measles exposure in late December.
Three cases and an index case, which is the the earliest known or suspected case of infection in an outbreak, have been confirmed, according to a release from Philadelphia Health.
Health officials said patients in two of the three confirmed cases were hospitalized and released with two more possible cases being hospitalized after contact with one of the known cases.
Here is the list of places and dates the health department is working to contact people who could have been exposed:
- Jefferson Health building at 33 S 9th/833 Chestnut Street
- Exposures took place on Dec. 19 between 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
- Multicultural Education Station Day Care at 6919 Castor Avenue
- Exposures took place on Dec. 20 and 21
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Emergency Room at 3401 Civic Center Boulevard
- Exposures took place on Dec. 28
- St. Christopher's Hospital for Children Emergency Department
- Suspected exposures may have happened overnight Dec. 30 - Dec. 31 mid-afternoon
- St. Christopher's Hospital for Children inpatient unit 5 North
- Suspected exposures may have happened between Dec. 31 and Jan. 3
- Nazareth Hospital Emergency Room
- Suspected exposures may have happened on Dec. 31 and Jan. 2
Two possible cases associated with the Multicultural Education Station Day Care in Oxford Circle are also under investigation. Officials say a person confirmed to have measles disregarded quarantine instructions on Dec. 20 and 21.
No one at the day care answered questions from CBS News Philadelphia. A sign on the front door reads in part, "Several children have shown symptoms."
Philadelphia officials strongly recommend anyone who might have been exposed to quarantine, stay at home, stay away from others, and get vaccinated or get caught up with vaccinations.
"Measles is a very dangerous virus, however, Philadelphia has high vaccination rates, with at least 93% of children fully vaccinated against measles by age 6," officials said in a release. "However, 90% of people with close contact with an infected person will get measles if they are not vaccinated. About 1 in 5 unvaccinated people in the U.S. who get measles is hospitalized."
The city said officials are working with the health department to stop measles from spreading by identifying everyone who may have been exposed, checking their vaccine status, warning them that they may have been exposed, and issuing quarantine and exclusion orders where necessary.
"Children under 12 months and adults and children who are immunocompromised remain vulnerable to measles but are generally protected because of the wall of immunity created by high community vaccination levels," said Health Commissioner Dr. Cheryl Bettigole. "Unfortunately, we are seeing cases of measles that have spread to vulnerable individuals including young children due to people declining vaccination and also failing to adhere to quarantine recommendations. Philadelphia is a city where we believe in a duty to take care of each other. We are asking all city residents who may have been exposed to measles to do their part to ensure that no additional infants are harmed by this infection."
How does measles spread, and what are the symptoms?
Measles is transmitted through the air from coughing and sneezing.
"Measles is one of the most infectious diseases that we know," Dr. Robert Danoff of Jefferson Health said.
Danoff said while people who are vaccinated are protected, those who are not need to watch out for certain symptoms.
"First things fever, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes. Three to five days later the fever might increase but then you can get this rash that starts at the forehead it's like pulling a shade down. It's goes from the forehead all the way to the rest of the body," Danoff said.
Both Jefferson and Children's Hospital tell CBS News Philadelphia they are conducting contact tracing with patients and employees as the health department continues to investigate.
Anyone who may have been exposed to someone with measles or who is showing symptoms is urged to call their health care provider.
The Philadelphia Health Department said they have additional resources on where to get vaccines, including information on how to get your child vaccinated for free at a City Health Center.