News for Immediate Release
May 2, 2014
Department of Health Advisory: Possible
Measles Exposures in Lehigh and Monroe Counties
Harrisburg – The Pennsylvania
Department of Health has identified a confirmed case of measles that could have
exposed other persons while infectious.
The possible exposures could have
occurred at two separate locations including the Pocono Medical Center in East
Stroudsburg and Geisinger Medical Center in Danville.
Measles is a vaccine-preventable
disease. Both facilities are working closely with the department to identify
and protect anyone who might have come into contact with a patient and is not
The measles vaccine is highly effective;
however, the following groups of individuals are at risk of becoming infected
with measles if they have contact with an infected individual:
less than one year of age who are too young to have received the measles, mumps
and rubella (MMR) vaccine;
who were vaccinated with an inactivated vaccine, which was used from 1963
through 1967, and have not been revaccinated;
born after 1957 who have only received one dose of MMR vaccine;
who refused vaccination; and
from parts of the world where there is low vaccination coverage or circulating
Pocono Medical Center has identified
potentially exposed individuals and is contacting them in conjunction with the
department to confirm their vaccination status.
The patient was also treated at
Geisinger Medical Center, located at 100 North Academy Drive in Danville, on
Wednesday, April 23. Individuals who were at the Foss Clinic from 1 to 6:30
p.m., in the areas of the main entrance, the sixth floor, the elevators and the
outpatient lab may have been exposed. Additionally, individuals that rode the shuttle
to and from the facility between the hours of 4:15 and 6:30 p.m. may have been
Measles is caused by a highly contagious
virus. Symptoms will begin one to two weeks after exposure and include a runny
nose, watery eyes, cough and a high fever. After four days, a raised, red rash
starts to spread on the face, down the body and out to the arms and legs. The
rash usually lasts four to seven days.
An individual with measles can spread
the virus to others for four days before and four days after the rash begins.
It is spread by sneezing or coughing, touching contaminated objects, and direct
contact with infected nasal or throat secretions. Infected droplets and
secretions can remain contagious on surfaces for up to two hours.
Complications from measles can include
ear infection, diarrhea and pneumonia, inflammation of the brain, and even
death. Measles can also cause miscarriages or premature delivery in pregnant
The MMR vaccine can help prevent
infection if it is given within three days of exposure. If it has been more
than three days since your exposure, a dose of immune globulin can provide
protection up to six days after exposure.
There is no risk in getting an
additional dose of the MMR vaccine for individuals who may have already
The MMR vaccine is given to toddlers
when they are 12 to 15 months of age, and a second dose is required for all
Pennsylvania school children. However, individuals who have received only one
dose of the vaccine, instead of the recommended two doses, may still be at risk
of infection with this virus.
If you or your children are at risk for
measles, and become ill with the symptoms one to two weeks after possible
exposure, contact your healthcare provider to share that you’ve been exposed so
that precautions can be taken to avoid exposing anyone else.
If you are a healthcare provider who
suspects measles, please call 1-877-PA-HEALTH for consultation and to arrange
Most people in the United States are
immune to measles, either because they received the MMR vaccine in childhood,
or because they were exposed to measles in the pre-vaccine era.
If you are not immune to measles and
want to receive MMR or immune globulin, ask your healthcare provider or contact
the Pennsylvania Department of Health at 1-877-PA-HEALTH.
For more information about measles, see
the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s website at http://www.health.state.pa.us/pdf/epi/MeaslesFactSheet.pdf.
Media contact: Holli Senior,