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American Press
21-04-2025
- Health
- American Press
Case of measles confirmed in greater New Orleans area
Case of measles confirmed in greater New Orleans area Published 2:05 pm Monday, April 21, 2025 Special to the American Press The Louisiana Department of Health has confirmed one case of measles in an adult resident of Region 1 — comprised of Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, and St. Bernard parishes. At this time, the patient's exposure to measles appears to be linked to international travel. The individual who tested positive is in isolation and has received treatment at a Region 1 hospital. The patient was not hospitalized and will remain in isolation until no longer infectious. This patient was not vaccinated. To protect patient confidentiality, no further information about the patient will be released. Email newsletter signup The LDH Office of Public Health is working to identify and notify those who have come into contact with the infected individual. This is the first measles case reported in Louisiana in 2025. In 2024, three confirmed travel-associated measles cases were reported in Louisiana, all in the greater New Orleans area. Measles is highly contagious and can spread rapidly among individuals who have not received the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine. Measles cases can result in hospitalization and, in extreme cases, can lead to death. The measles virus can be particularly dangerous for babies and young children. The best way to prevent getting sick is to be immunized against measles. Two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine are highly effective at preventing measles. What are the symptoms of measles? Symptoms generally appear about seven to 14 days after a person is infected. Initial measles symptoms include a high fever that may spike as high as 104°, a cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. symptoms include a high fever that may spike as high as 104°, a cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. Two to three days after symptoms begin, tiny white spots (Koplik spots) may appear inside the mouth. Three to five days after symptoms begin, a rash will break out. It usually appears as flat red spots on the face at the hairline and spreads downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet. After a few days, the fever subsides and the rash fades. I think I have been exposed to measles. What should I do? Immediately call your healthcare provider and let them know that you have been exposed to someone who has measles . Your healthcare provider can determine if you are protected against measles based on your vaccination record, age, or laboratory evidence. Also, please contact your regional epidemiologist with the Louisiana Department of Health, who can provide additional guidance. . Your healthcare provider can determine if you are protected against based on your vaccination record, age, or laboratory evidence. Also, please contact your regional epidemiologist with the Louisiana Department of Health, who can provide additional guidance. Monitor yourself for symptoms. Be on the lookout for fever and/or an unexplained rash from 7-21 days after exposure potentially occurred, as this is the time when symptoms may develop. If you see a provider in person, please notify your provider that you have been exposed to measles before you arrive so that they can make special arrangements to evaluate you, if needed, without putting other patients and medical office staff at risk. before you arrive so that they can make special arrangements to evaluate you, if needed, without putting other patients and medical office staff at risk. If you are not immune to measles , the MMR vaccine or a medicine called immune globulin may help reduce your risk of developing measles . Your healthcare provider can advise and monitor you for signs and symptoms of measles . I think I have measles. What should I do? If symptoms develop, stay at home. Avoid school, work, and any large gatherings. Immediately call your healthcare provider and let them know about your symptoms so they can tell you what to do next. Your healthcare provider can make special arrangements to evaluate you, if needed, without putting other patients and medical office staff at risk. The Louisiana Department of Health can assist healthcare providers in appropriately diagnosing and managing your care. Featured Local Savings
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Three more states confirm measles cases
April 20 (UPI) -- Three more states confirmed their first measles cases of the year over the weekend, as the United States battles a growing outbreak of the highly contagious disease that has now touched more than half of all U.S. states. Louisiana and Virginia confirmed their first cases of the illness on Saturday after Missouri added their names to the list of states with confirmed cases a day prior. Each state confirmed one case and all had recent history of international travel. The Louisiana Department of Health identified the patient in a statement as an unvaccinated adult in the greater New Orleans area. Their exposure is seemingly linked to international travel and they are in isolation at a local hospital where they are being treated for the disease, the department said. "The LDH Office of Public Health is working to identify and notify those who have come into contact with the infected individual," it said. The patient in Virginia has been identified by local health officials as a child under the age of 4 with recent international travel history. No other information about the patient was provided to protect the privacy of the family. "This first case of measles in Virginia this year is a reminder of how easily this highly contagious disease can spread, particularly with international travel," VDH State Epidemiological Laurie Forlano said in a statement. "Vaccination remains our best defense against measles and is safe and highly effective at protecting people and preventing outbreaks. We urge Virginians, especially those planning to travel, to check their vaccination status, talk to their healthcare provider and get the MMR vaccine if needed." In Missouri, health officials said the state's first confirmed patient of the year was also a child whose vaccination status was unknown. They said the child was "a visitor of Taney County associated with international travel." "There is no indication of widespread exposure, as this person was diagnosed soon after arrival to Taney County," the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said in a statement. "Exposure is believed to be limited, and known contacts have been identified and contacted." Also on Friday, Michigan -- which confirmed its first infection of the year on March 14 -- announced an outbreak involving three confirmed patients. Their infections are linked to an outbreak of hundreds of cases in Ontario, Canada, the state's health officials said. With the three states confirming infections, the number of states with measles cases this year rises to at least 27 as of Sunday night. The website for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which last updated its statistics on Friday, states a total of 800 cases of measles has been confirmed this year, with 96% of the patients either unvaccinated or having an unknown vaccination status. Eighty-five of the patients have been hospitalized and there have been three deaths associated with the disease. With nearly 600 confirmed cases, Texas is by far the most affected state. Only 2019's 1,274 measles cases exceed this year's tally since 2000, when the United States declared it had eliminated measles from its borders.
