Fourth site exposed to measles announced by Columbus Public Health
Columbus Public Health indicated Saturday that it is investigating a confirmed case of measles in a person who visited a Northland store Thursday, the fourth such public exposure announced as cases continue to spread throughout the area.
The health department is asking any unvaccinated person who visited the Dollar Tree at 5990 Westerville Road from 6:20 to 8:50 p.m. Thursday to watch for symptoms of measles and call their health care provider if sick.
The location is the fourth site where Columbus Public Health is asking those who may have been exposed to measles to monitor for symptoms. The other three are:
- Meijer, 6175 Sawmill Road, where the time and date of exposure were 5:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 19.
- Jesus Power Assembly of God, 5215 Cleveland Ave., where the time and date of exposure were 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Nov. 20.
- Macy’s and JCPenney stores inside Polaris Fashion Place, 1500 Polaris Parkway, where the time and date of exposure were 6:30-10:30 p.m. Nov. 25.
The number of cases in a measles outbreak in Columbus has doubled over the past couple of weeks, according to a public health dashboard. There were 50 cases in Greater Columbus as of Friday, according to the Columbus Public Health dashboard, up from the 24 cases reported last month.
Previous reporting on measles outbreak: Columbus measles outbreak swells to 24 cases as 9 kids are hospitalized
At a press conference last week, Health Commissioner Dr. Mysheika Roberts said cases are spread out in three public health jurisdictions — Columbus Public Health, Franklin County Public Health and Ross County Health District.
Measles spreading among unvaccinated children, health officials said.
Speaking last week, Roberts said that all 46 children involved in cases at the time were unvaccinated for the measles, with 19 hospitalized for the illness. Eighteen cases occurred at schools and day cares.
Roberts said about 25% of the population in the area is unvaccinated.
“The message is clear: If you have a child who is 12 months of age and older and has not received their MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine, please make every effort you can do to get them vaccinated this week,” Roberts said last week.
The agency is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Nationwide Children’s Hospital to conduct contract tracing and case investigations to notify people who have been exposed to measles, she said.
Measles: what symptoms to watch for
Although preventable through vaccination, the measles is considered a dangerous and sometimes deadly disease.
About one in five people in the U.S. who get measles will be hospitalized, according to the CDC. About one in 1,000 people who contract the measles could develop brain swelling, which could lead to serious brain damage, according to the agency.
Previous reporting on measles outbreak:Measles outbreak reported at Columbus-area child care facility
The disease is also highly contagious — 90% of unvaccinated individuals who are exposed to measles will become infected — according to Columbus Public Health and Franklin County Public Health. Symptoms of the measles include fever, cough, rash, runny nose and red or watery eyes.
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