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FLORENCE – The Pinal County Public Health Services District has confirmed a fifth case of measles in an adult male, who is now recovering. This individual was exposed to the family of four other cases identified last week residing in the Kearny area. This new case raises the possibility that some Pinal County residents or others in the area may have been exposed to measles since the patient visited public locations while infectious. This case was born after 1957 and reported only having one dose of MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine. Two doses of MMR vaccine are recommended in persons born after 1957.
Pinal County Public Health Services District has identified several public locations this patient visited while infectious. If a person is unvaccinated or unsure of their vaccination status and visited any of the following businesses during these specific dates and timeframes, contact the Pinal County Public Health Department at 520-509-3555 or toll free at 1-888-431-1311.
On Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015, this patient visited four public locations in Kearny:
Big D’s, 1113 Tillbury, Kearny — 5:30am-8:30am
Gordon’s IGA, 352 Alden Rd, Kearny– 3:00pm-8:00pm
Kearny Health Mart, 338 Alden Rd, Kearny — 4:30pm-7:00pm
Kearny Post Office, 388 Alden Rd, Kearny– 3:00pm-8:00pm
On Friday, Jan. 23, 2015, this patient visited this location in Kearny:
Cactus Mini-Mart, 352 Alden Rd, Kearny–5:30am-8:30am
“We have already contacted these places of business this patient visited. These businesses are assisting the health department by placing signs at their entrances to inform customers and employees that they could have been exposed if they were in these locations during specific timeframes” said Public Health Acting Director Kore Redden.
People who were in the above locations at the times listed should:
Review their vaccination history. People who have not received the measles vaccine are at higher risk for developing measles after an exposure, so they should talk with a health care provider about receiving MMR vaccination.
Monitor themselves for illness with fever and unexplained rash until February 13, 2015 (the time period when symptoms may develop); if symptoms develop, they should stay at home and call a health care provider immediately. Explain that they have been exposed to a measles case and may be infectious with measles, and have their doctor notify the Public Health Department at 520-509-3555 or toll free at 1-888-431-1311.
You can only get measles once, so if they were sick with measles as a child, they are immune and are not at risk for developing measles again.
Measles begins with fever (101 degrees F or higher), red, watery eyes, cough and coryza (runny nose). This is followed by a maculopapular rash (red, raised, and blotchy). The rash begins on the head at the hairline and moves down the trunk to the lower extremities. The rash may last for 5-6 days and turn brownish. Symptoms typically appear 7-12 days after exposure to measles but may take up to 21 days. A person with measles is considered to be contagious 4 days before rash onset (generally one day prior to fever) through the fourth day after rash onset.
Two doses of MMR vaccine provide full protection against measles. Those that have not been vaccinated or have just received 1 dose of MMR should obtain vaccination immediately (it takes about two weeks to build immunity). For those that are unsure if they have previously received MMR vaccination, they should obtain at least 1 dose of MMR vaccine. Residents should check with their healthcare providers or local pharmacy about the availability of MMR vaccine. The Pinal County Public Health Services District has MMR vaccine available for both children and adults. For more information, please go to the following link at: http://www.pinalcountyaz.gov/publichealth/Pages/OfficeLocations.aspx or call 520-509-3555 or toll free at 1-888-431-1311.
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