By Suzanne Elliott
Selliott@DominionPost.com
MORGANTOWN — While measles cases were reported in states neighboring West Virginia, the Mountain State so far remains untouched by the virus.
That could change, Monongalia County’s top health official said.
There could still be unreported cases, but the state was vigilant for decades about vaccinating children against the virus.
“Our students have had all of their childhood vaccines,” said Dr. Lee Smith, medical director of the county Health Department. “That has been really protective.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta said Monday there were 764 confirmed cases and one death from the measles outbreak, a 25-year high. The virus, now found in 22 states, was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, Smith said.
Allegheny County, Pa., had five reported cases of the measles as of last week.
It’s believed the virus was contracted by a person traveling outside the United States, who then brought it back to this country. Because it can take 10 to 12 days before symptoms appear, it is not known how many people have been affected.
Measles — which is highly contagious — is passed through secretions, such as sneezing or coughing, or even tears, Smith said.
“It’s a tough virus and can last (in the air) in a room up to five hours after the contaminated person left,” he said.
Measles is at its most contagious four days before the telltale rash — flat red spots — appear on the affected person’s face or hairline. Those spots will then spread across the rest of the body. Runny, red eyes, a cough and runny nose and high fever also show up, Smith said.
“People usually break out two weeks after exposure,” he said. “Most measles deaths occur in impoverished countries.”
Complications from measles could include pneumonia and encephalitis.
In the U.S. in most cases, a child receives his or her first measles vaccination between the ages of 1 year and 15 months. A second vaccination is given when the child is between the ages of 4 and 6 and ready to start school, said Smith, adding those two vaccines are 97 percent effective.
“The CDC is not recommending additional doses,” he said.
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