Montco Avoids Further Measles Cases As Outbreak Comes To An End

NORRISTOWN, PA — Philadelphia has formally declared the recent measles outbreak, which included exposure events in Montgomery County but no new cases, is over.

During the outbreak, which began in December, eight Philadelphians and one person outside of Philadelphia tested positive for measles. Six of the Philadelphia cases were hospitalized, but all were ultimately discharged home.

New cases were found in at least four states. The resurgence in the long dormant virus was due to a very small number of individuals who did not have their vaccine, which provides full immunity.

Montgomery County managed to avoid any new positive cases within its borders over the past few weeks.

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 were 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.

Further, one person was 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.

"In the past, Philadelphia has suffered from extensive measles outbreaks," Philadelphia's Health Department Director of Disease Control, Landrus Burress, said in a statement earlier this week. "Thanks to quick work by our staff and collaboration with healthcare and childcare systems throughout the region, we were able to keep this outbreak small and quickly resolved. I am grateful to the hundreds of thousands of Philadelphians who have safely gotten their routine MMR vaccination, you helped keep us safe."

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.

The MMR vaccine that provides full immunity is available at many healthcare provider offices and pharmacies.

With reporting from Patch correspondent Max Bennett