PHILADELPHIA, PA—People in South Philadelphia may have been exposed to measles after the city’s Department of Public Health diagnosed a new case of the highly infectious viral disease. With a transmission rate of around 90% among non-immune individuals who are exposed to the virus, measles is extremely contagious. It’s unsettling.
Though Philadelphia has only reported one case, “the biggest outbreak was reported in West Texas, where more than 20 people have been hospitalized and an unvaccinated school-age child recently died,” said Robert H. Shmerling, MD, Rheumatologist and former clinical chief of the division of rheumatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC).
Measles is a highly contagious infection caused by a single-stranded RNA virus, belonging to the genus Morbillivirus and family Paramyxoviridae. The virus, which can remain active on surfaces and in the air for up to two hours, carries a 90% transmission rate for unvaccinated individuals exposed to it. Measles spreads easily through coughing, sneezing, or touching contaminated surfaces.
“Measles rash appears 3 to 5 days after the first symptoms. It usually begins as flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline. They then spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet,” said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In the United States, the MMR vaccine (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella vaccine) and MMRV vaccine (Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella) are available. “The current vaccine provides 97% protection — much higher than most other vaccines. Rarely, a person gets measles despite being fully vaccinated,” said Dr. Shmerling. The best way to protect against measles is through vaccination, said the CDC.
Contact your doctor’s office, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, and chain pharmacies like CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid, all of which offer vaccination services. Additionally, urgent care centers such as CityMD and MedExpress, community clinics like Philadelphia Health Center #1, and travel clinics like the Philadelphia Travel Clinic provide convenient access to measles vaccinations. If you have concerns or need more information, reach out to your healthcare provider or visit the Philadelphia Department of Public Health website.
