MSDH: New local case of possible measles exposure

(The following is a press release from the Mississippi State Department of Health.)

JACKSON, Miss. – A new location of possible measles exposure has been added to the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) investigation into an out-of-state traveler who was contagious with measles while in Mississippi. The exposure happened at various locations from April 9-11.

The new location is as follows:

• Turtle Creek Mall Food Court, 1000 Turtle Creek Drive in Hattiesburg, 12-2 p.m., Wednesday, April 10

The locations and times of possible exposure previously released were as follows:

• Subway Restaurant inside the Circle K, 4050 U.S. Highway 11 in Hattiesburg, 2-4 p.m., Tuesday, April 9

• Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, 3509 Hardy Street in Hattiesburg, 10-11 p.m., Wednesday, April 10

If you were at any of the locations during the specified dates and times listed below, you could be potentially exposed to measles. Please make sure you and your family are up-to-date on vaccinations, monitor for symptoms, and if symptoms do appear, call your physician or local emergency room BEFORE going to make sure the facility can make proper arrangements to avoid further spread of the illness.

Measles is a serious respiratory disease of the lungs and breathing tubes that starts with a high fever, followed soon after by a cough, runny nose, and red eyes. On the third to seventh day of illness, a rash of tiny, red spots breaks out. The rash starts at the head and spreads to the rest of the body. Symptoms usually appear about 11 days after exposure with a range of seven to 21 days.

Measles spreads when a person infected with the measles virus breathes, coughs or sneezes. It is very contagious, with the virus lingering in a room where a person with measles has been for up to two hours. Measles can be serious. It can lead to pneumonia, encephalitis (swelling of the brain), and death. Young children are at higher risk for complications, especially those under 12 months old who are too young to receive the measles vaccination.

For more information on measles, visit HealthyMS.com/measles.