State Health Officials Confirm Third Case Of Measles, Warn Of Exposures At 3 Pikesville Locations

Maryland health officials confirmed a third case of measles in a Maryland resident and warn of three locations in Pikesville where people may have been exposed.

All three potential exposures occurred on Sunday. The first potential exposure was at 4000 Old Court Road from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The second was at Meat Maven (1630 Reisterstown Rd.) from 11:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The third was at Seven Mile Market (201 Reisterstown Rd.). Individuals who may have been exposed at other locations are being warned directly.

“It is concerning that three cases of measles have been identified in Maryland in such a short period of time,” Deputy Secretary for Public Health Frances B. Phillips said in a statement. “The measles virus can spread very easily between unvaccinated people, and there have been large outbreaks in several other areas of the country. Vaccination is the best way to stop additional infections. We are asking that Marylanders ensure they and their families are up-to-date on vaccinations against measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases.”

The Old Court Road location was the same place where the year's first confirmed patient may have exposed people to measles. The second confirmed case, announced Tuesday, is a household contact of the first, and both acquired measles in a place where there is an ongoing ourbreak.

Measles is a vaccine-preventable disease easily spread to unvaccinated people through coughing, sneezing and oral secretions.

It can remain in the air for up to two hours.

Anyone who develops a fever or other symptoms should call their doctor, and shouldn't go to child care, school, work or out in public so as to avoid putting anyone else at risk. Those with symptoms should call their doctor about their symptoms before arriving to the waiting room so that the office can work to prevent spread to other patients.

Symptoms typically show up 10 to 14 days after exposure, but can also develop as soon as seven days and as late as 21 days. Symptoms include a fever in excess of 101 degrees, a runny nose, cough, and red and watery eyes. Usually, one to four days after the first symptoms, a red rash appears on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. A person with measles is contagious from four days before the rash appears until four days after the rash begins.

People are considered immune if they were born in the U.S. before 1957, previously had measles or have had two measles vaccine shots. However, pregnant women, infants less than 1 year old and immunosuppressed people are at particular risk. Such people who may have been exposed in this case should consult with their doctor about medicine to prevent development of measles.