25 People Exposed To Measles During Two Montco Events

NORRISTOWN, PA — A total of at least 25 people were exposed to measles four separate events that occurred in Montgomery County earlier this month, a spokesperson for the county confirmed to Patch. Ten of those individuals have been asked to quarantine.

The Jan. 3 event at Jefferson Abington Hospital's Emergency Department led to 20 exposures, the spokesperson said. Six of those individuals were asked to quarantine

The nearby Redeemer Pediatric Urgent Care in Meadowbrook saw two exposures on the same day, leading to one quarantine.

Two new exposure events were also confirmed by the county Thursday, with one person exposed at Nemours in Abington and asked to quarantine, and two exposed and asked to quarantine at CHOP's Emergency Department in King of Prussia.

It's the latest development in a measles outbreak that continues to grow in Philadelphia, which has already seen 9 positive cases. No positive cases have yet been confirmed in Montgomery County.

Measles has popped up in three other states as well, including New Jersey, Delaware, and Virginia. Many of the positives can be traced back to a daycare in Philadelphia where unvaccinated children were exposed.

In response, the Philadelphia Health Department has hosted a slew of free vaccination clinics. Measles, largely eradicated over the past several decades, has mounted small comebacks in recent years in the midst of anti-vaccine furor.

Symptoms of measles include cold-like symptoms, runny nose, red eyes, greyish-white spots in the mouth, fever, and more. It's transmitted most commonly through coughing and sneezing.

Measles can remain infectious in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected individual leaves that area.