New Cases Of Measles Confirmed By Local Health Officials
NORTH TEXAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Health officials in Dallas County are sending out a plea to doctors and health workers -- asking that they be on the lookout for measles symptoms.
Wednesday Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) confirmed a second case of measles. This time the victim is a 14-year-old who had been fully immunized. The child reportedly had been in contact with the person who was diagnosed with the first confirmed case of measles late last month.
Now DCHHS is advising all healthcare providers to consider measles when diagnosing patients that have compatible symptoms. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, measles is spread through the air by breathing, coughing, or sneezing. Officials say measles are so contagious that anyone exposed to it, who has not been immunized, will most likely get the disease.
Individuals who have traveled abroad should be particularly scrutinized. The UK is experiencing one of the largest outbreaks of measles ever. There have been more than 1,000 confirmed cases so far this year, with 288 of those cases alone during the month of April in England.
In the U.S. there have been measles outbreaks in the dozens in both New York and North Carolina.
Here in North Texas, Denton County health officials have also confirmed two measles cases this year.
Measles symptoms include fever; runny nose; red, watery eyes; cough; and a rash all over the body.
Since the disease can cause serious illness and even death, DCHHS is advising healthcare professionals to take exceptional step, including –
Placing anyone with a suspected case of measles apart from other waiting patients
Making sure all healthcare personnel ahs been immunized for the disease
Immediately reporting, while the patient is still present, any suspected measles cases to DCHHS
Since measles is a disease that is still prevalent in many parts of the world, DCHHS recommends vaccinating children as 6-months-old, if they are going to be traveling abroad.
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