United States: Concerns among citizens and health authorities in Philadelphia have been raised after six (6) locations were backlisted as measles-affected areas. According to the city’s health department, all six cities have been registering measles-related cases since late December 2023.
According to the reports, five (5) locations were announced by the health authorities in mid-December, and the remaining one was announced two (2) days before the Christmas occasion.
Cluster of Measles cases!
The latest release was shared by the health authorities in which they outlined that the city has been witnessing a cluster of cases among the residents who are unvaccinated. According to the reports, the first-ever cluster was reported at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
According to the official update, six cases were confirmed, and three were presumed cases as of January 5, according to 6ABC.
Reportedly, it has been noted that the crisis started after the nation started reporting several cases following an infected person who went to daycare and did not follow the quarantine protocol.
The city officials can be quoted saying, “The Health Department is strongly recommending that anyone who may have been exposed to measles should quarantine themselves by staying home and away from others,” as per the 6ABC News.
The city officials further shared a list of the places that are vulnerable and where the residents can be exposed to the disease; the data has been compiled by 6ABC News. The sites are the following:
Multicultural Education Station Day Care at 6919 Castor Ave
– Exposures took place approximately on December 20 and 21
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Emergency Room at 3401 Civic Centre Blvd
– Exposures took place on December 28
Jefferson Health building at 33 S 9th/833 Chestnut St
– Exposures took place on December 19 between 2 pm and 5:30 pm.
St Christopher’s Hospital for Children Emergency Department
– Suspected exposures may have happened overnight December 30 – December 31, mid-afternoon
Nazareth Hospital Emergency Room
– Suspected exposures may have happened on December 31 and January 2
St Christopher’s Hospital for Children inpatient unit 5 North
– Suspected exposures may have happened between December 31 and January 3
The health official further appealed to the general public to get checked by their healthcare provider or pediatrician if they were present at the site on the above-mentioned dates. The people are strictly advised to visit doctors if they are not immune to the measles vaccine and they don’t feel the right way.
They are further asked to tell their doctor about the possibility of measles exposure. If an individual is opting to go out to seek medical assistance, they must inform the healthcare provider that they might have been exposed to measles.
The health authorities further urged the infected person to stay home as they can potentially infect the vulnerable population.
Measles and its symptoms!
According to the information shared by the Philadelphia Department of Public, measles is a virus that spreads very rapidly.
Philadelphia Health Commissioner Dr Cheryl Bettigole stated, “Measles is highly contagious; about 90% of people who are not vaccinated, who are exposed, will get measles,” 6ABC News reported.
Common symptoms of the disease are fever, runny nose, cough, and puffy eyes, and the infected person will also get rashes on his or her skin. In addition to this, the infection can lead to serious infection, which can lead to brain infection, pneumonia, and even death.
Bettigole further mentioned, “If you have not been vaccinated against measles or have not vaccinated your children who are 12 months of age or older, please reach out to your healthcare provider to do so immediately. If you or your child has been exposed to measles, please follow public health guidance to avoid exposing additional children.”