PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — An Allegheny County resident has been diagnosed with measles.

The Allegheny County Health Department said Tuesday that an adult, who is not vaccinated, was treated and discharged from the UPMC Shadyside emergency room on Monday and is currently recovering at home.

The resident traveled internationally about two weeks before becoming ill, and this case is not linked to any ongoing measles outbreak in the United States.

This is the first case of measles reported in Allegheny County so far this year.

UPMC is notifying and evaluating patients and staff who may have come in contact with the individual when they were at the hospital.

According to the Health Department, the resident was potentially contagious starting on Thursday and potential exposures may have occurred at the following locations and times:

Giant Eagle Market District (5550 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15232) Friday, April 26, 2019: 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. Sunday, April 28, 2019: 2:45 p.m. – 5 p.m.

ALDI (5631 Baum Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15206) Friday, April 26, 2019: 6:30 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.



Giant Eagle released the following statement Tuesday night:

“Giant Eagle was made aware of the individual in question’s visits to our Shadyside Market District by the Allegheny County Health Department earlier this afternoon. Since that time we have stayed close with our Health Department contacts to ensure we follow all suggested actions, which to date have focused on notification to our Team Members. “Out of an abundance of caution, we have taken additional measures to clean and sanitize our store to ensure that our Shadyside Market District continues to be a safe place to shop and work.”

The Health Department says anyone who has been exposed would start showing symptoms between now and May 20. Anyone who may have been exposed and is susceptible to measles or showing symptoms is urged to contact their primary care provider immediately and notify them that you may have been exposed to measles.

Symptoms include rash, high fever, cough and red, watery eyes.

Dr. Kristen Mertz, a medical epidemiologist with the Allegheny County Health Department, says measles is a highly contagious, but vaccine-preventable, disease that spreads through coughing, sneezing or other contact with mucus or saliva.

“Even if someone with measles has been in a room and then leaves, it still can linger in the air for a couple of hours,” Mertz said.

The measles vaccine is available at the Health Department’s immunization clinic located on the fourth floor of 425 First Ave. in Downtown Pittsburgh. The clinic is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. It’s open from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday.