A measles outbreak has hit San Diego County, marking the first case this year confirmed in a 1-year-old, who had recently been overseas. The tot is now hospitalized, with the county health authorities on high alert, scrambling to contain any further spread. Information from the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency details the locations where the child may have exposed others to the virus.
Having been five years since the last reported measles case in the area, the case has raised concerns about potential exposure at several public locations. The exposed locations and times include Super China Buffet in La Mesa on January 28, Hilton Head County Park in El Cajon on the same day, Grossmont Pediatrics on January 31, and Rady Children’s Emergency Department on February 1. The county's epidemiology staff is diligently working, contacting those who may have been exposed to the virus at the identified venues.
"Measles is a very contagious disease that can be spread easily by coughing, sneezing, or being in the same room with an infected person," Dr. Wilma J. Wooten, the public health officer, stated. She warned about the disease's symptoms and advised anyone who visited the specified locations at corresponding dates and times to be vigilant. According to advice detailed by health officials, people displaying potential measles symptoms should avoid going directly to their healthcare providers to prevent spreading the infection further.
Early signs of measles can manifest between seven to 21 days after exposure, initiating with fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes. The iconic red rash often follows several days later. Those infected by the virus can be contagious from four days before to four days after the rash appearance, spreading alarmingly quick. The child at the center of this outbreak was at various public spaces, sparking a race against the clock to inform and safeguard potentially infected individuals.
As precautionary advice, Wooten recommended vaccination, "The best way to prevent measles is by getting the measles vaccine," a sentiment echoed by health officials in the wake of international travel-related outbreaks. Recommendations for vaccination vary by age, with infants between 6 and 12 months needing one dose, and those over a year requiring two doses spaced at least four weeks apart.
Complications from measles can gravely impact children under five years old and adults over twenty, with risks including diarrhea, pneumonia, and at its most severe, death. "There is no treatment for measles," public health officials remind, emphasizing the importance of prevention. For further information on measles and vaccinations, the public is directed to contact the HHSA Immunization Branch or visit their website.
