About 152 people across 30 counties in West Virginia have been exposed to measles, state health officials said Friday.
Earlier this week, the first confirmed case of measles in the state since 2009 was identified, according to the West Virginia Department of Health (WVDH).
The patient was someone who was undervaccinated and had a history of recent international travel, the department said.
State health leaders said that since then, they’ve learned of dozens of exposed individuals including 128 West Virginia residents and 24 out-of-state contacts from four neighboring states.
Of the people who were exposed, 62% don’t have documentation proving they are protected against measles and are considered at risk, according to WVDH.
One dose of the measles vaccine is 93% effective at preventing infection if exposed to the virus, and two doses are 97% effective, according to the CDC.
The WVDH said it is working closely with the Monongalia County Health Department, where the positive measles case was identified, to make sure health officials have adequate testing supplies and MMR vaccine availability.
“The Bureau for Public Health recommends the safe and effective MMR vaccination as part of a routine vaccination schedule for all children and adults,” the department said in the release.
According to state health officials on Friday, there have been about 152 cases of measles across 30 counties in West Virginia.
The West Virginia Department of Health (WVDH) announced earlier this week that the first confirmed case of measles in the state since 2009 had been found. According to the department, the patient had recently traveled overseas and was undervaccinated.
During that time, state health officials reported that they had become aware of numerous cases of exposure, including 128 West Virginians and 24 contacts from four nearby states who did not live in the state.
According to WVDH, of those who were exposed, 62% do not have proof that they are immune to the measles and are therefore deemed at risk.
According to a department release, “the Bureau for Public Health is strongly recommending those exposed individuals with no evidence of immunity against the virus quarantine until May 9 or 10, 2024, depending on their last date of exposure.”.
An ABC News request for comment was not immediately answered by the WVDH.
A number of localized outbreaks, including those at a children’s hospital and daycare center in Philadelphia, an elementary school in Florida, and a migrant center in Chicago, have contributed to the sharp rise in measles cases during the first quarter of 2024, which coincides with the announcement of the potential exposure.
As of Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 128 cases across 19 states. The Federal Health Agency reported that 81% of those infected were either unvaccinated or had an unclear vaccination history, and that over half of those infected were under the age of five.
The virus that causes measles is extremely contagious. According to the CDC, a measles patient can infect up to 90% of close contacts who are not immune, either from a previous infection or vaccination. That’s how contagious it is.
As of right now, the CDC advises that everyone get the MMR vaccine twice: once between the ages of 12 and 15 months and again between the ages of 4 and 6.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the effectiveness of the measles vaccine at preventing infection is 93% for one dose and 97% for two doses.
The WVDH said that in order to guarantee that health officials have access to enough testing supplies and the MMR vaccine, it is closely collaborating with the Monongalia County Health Department, which is where the positive measles case was discovered.
The agency stated in the release that “the Bureau for Public Health recommends the safe and effective MMR vaccination as part of a routine vaccination schedule for all children and adults.”. “The time to make sure you and your family members are up to date on your MMR vaccine is now, as summer travel approaches and individuals are traveling to and from countries that have seen sharp increases in measles cases. ****.
