Worcester County resident diagnosed with measles, first case in Mass. since 2020

The state Department of Health announced Thursday that an adult resident of Worcester County has been diagnosed with measles, the first confirmed case of measles in a Massachusetts resident since early 2020.

The person recently traveled overseas, according to the press release. People who may have been exposed to measles from this case have already been contacted and given recommendations, the release said.

“Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease, which has increased worldwide, including here in the United States and in neighboring states in New England,” said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein, according to the release. “Cases of measles have been reported in 30 states since the beginning of last year, mostly in people and communities who are unvaccinated. Vaccination is the best way to protect against measles.”

The release said about 167 measles cases have been reported across the United States this year, as of July 11. The majority of cases — 84% — were in unvaccinated people, or people with unknown vaccination status. Nearly half are in children 5 and younger.

The DPH noted that large measles outbreaks are occurring in Europe and elsewhere internationally, and that many of the current U.S. cases are linked to recent travel. Last month, the DPH alerted residents about a potential exposure to measles tied to an international visitor who traveled through Boston to Amsterdam while infectious.

The DPH urged anyone who does not know their measles immunization status to contact their health care provider to get vaccinated with at least one dose of the MMR vaccine.

Also called rubeola, measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads easily and can be serious or fatal for children who are not vaccinated.

While death rates have been falling due to more widespread use of vaccines, measles still kills more than 200,000 people a year globally, mostly children, according to the Mayo Clinic .

The measles virus lives in the nose and throat mucus of an infected person and can spread to others through coughing and sneezing. If others breathe contaminated air or touch a surface that has been infected then touch their eyes, noses or mouths, they can become infected.

It can also live for up to 2 hours in an airspace after an infected person leaves that area.

According to the CDC, the virus is so contagious that if one person has measles, up to 90% of people close to that person who are not immune will also become infected. If you are infected by the measles virus and don't know it, you can still spread measles to others during a window of four days before through four days after the telltale rash appears.

Measles is more than a rash, though that is often the telltale sign of the virus. Here's what other symptoms the CDC says to look for if you're concerned of a potential measles infection . If you think you or your child have been exposed to measles, call your health care provider immediately as it can be dangerous, especially for babies and younger children.

The first symptoms may occur seven to 14 days after measles infection and may present as the following:

• High fever (may spike to more than 104 degrees)
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red, watery eyes

Two to three days after symptoms begin, tiny white spots, also known as Koplik spots, may appear inside the mouth.

Three to five days after symptoms begin, a rash will break out. It usually begins as flat, red spots that appear on the face at the hairline and spread downward to the neck, trunk, legs and feet.

Small, raised bumps may also appear on top of the flat, red spots and they may become joined together as they spread from the head to the rest of the body. When that rash appears, the infected person's fever may spike to more than 104 degrees Fahrenheit, per the CDC.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester County resident diagnosed with measles, first case in Mass. since 2020