2nd Measles Case Confirmed In Maryland: State Health Officials

BALTIMORE, MD — Two Maryland residents have measles, state health officials confirmed on Tuesday, April 16. Both individuals contracted the infection out of state in an area with an ongoing measles outbreak, according to the Maryland Department of Health.

The two people who have confirmed cases of measles had contact within a household, officials said.

"There is no evidence of ongoing spread of measles in Maryland currently," according to a statement from the Maryland Department of Health. "No additional potential measles exposure locations in Maryland have been identified."

The first measles case in a Maryland resident this year was confirmed by state health officials on April 5. Anyone who visited an office building at 4000 Old Court Road in Pikesville from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, April 2, may have been exposed to measles, according to authorities.

Measles is a viral infection that can be prevented with a vaccine. Coughing, sneezing and secretions from the mouth can spread the contagious virus, which experts say may remain in the air for up to two hours.

Within 10 to 14 days after being exposed to the virus, people develop early symptoms of high fever, runny nose, cough and red, watery eyes.

One to four days after the early symptoms, a red rash appears on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. A person with measles is contagious four days before the rash and four days after the rash begins.

People who suspect they have been exposed to measles should call a health care provider before going to a medical office or emergency department. Special arrangements can be made to ensure other patients and medical staff are protected from possible infection.

LifeBridge Health amended its visitor policy after the first measles diagnosis this month, barring those younger than 14 from visiting its hospitals.

Those most at risk of complications from measles are pregnant women, infants less than one year old and people whose immune systems are compromised. Those born in the U.S. before 1957, who previously had measles or who have had two doses of measles vaccine are considered immune.

The Maryland Department of Health provided Baltimore County with 1,200 doses of the vaccine, and there will be a vaccination clinic from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 17, at the Bais Yaakov School For Girls, 6302 Smith Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21209.

• Measles Case Confirmed, Baltimore County Exposure Possible
• LifeBridge Health Changes Visitor Policy After Measles Diagnosis

National Uptick In Measles Cases

There have been 555 individual cases of measles confirmed in 20 states between Jan. 1 and April 11, 2019, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which reports this is the second greatest number of cases in the U.S. since the measles was eliminated in 2000.

The states that have reported measles cases to the CDC in 2019 are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Texas and Washington.

There were 17 outbreaks in 2018, the year with the greatest number of measles cases in the U.S. since 2000, according to the CDC. Cases in New York City and New Jersey contributed to the majority and occurred primarily among unvaccinated people in Orthodox Jewish communities. Those outbreaks were associated with travelers who brought measles back from Israel, where a large outbreak is occurring. In all, 82 people are known to have brought measles to the U.S. from other countries in 2018.

This year, measles outbreaks are ongoing in the following areas, according to the CDC:

• New York State, Rockland County
• New York City
• Washington
• New Jersey
• California, Butte County
• Michigan

The CDC attributed the outbreaks to unvaccinated international travelers who brought measles back from other countries such as Israel, Ukraine and the Philippines, where large measles outbreaks are occurring.

Get more information about measles from the Maryland Department of Health and the CDC.

Patch editors Lanning Taliaferro and Deb Belt contributed.