With the recent announcement of several cases of exposure to Measles in the Kansas City area, local residents have expressed concerns as to possible exposure to Measles in North Missouri. The Grundy County Health Department of Trenton reports all health departments in the state have disease surveillance systems in place to identify illnesses like the measles.
The health department notes there are no lab-confirmed cases of measles in Grundy County at this time. Clinicians are required to report the diagnosis of measles and other diseases to their respective health department for testing and investigation. Measles is described as “a contagious, acute viral illness transmitted by contact with an infected person through coughing and sneezing”.
The health department reports symptoms include a rash that appears seven to 21 days after exposure, a high fever, cough, runny nose, and red watery eyes. The rash generally appears three to five days after symptoms begin and looks like flat red spots that break out first on the face and then spread down to the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet. Patients are considered to be contagious four days before until four days after a rash appears.
The health department encourages individuals who may have been exposed to measles to contact their healthcare provider if they develop cold-like symptoms with a fever and/or rash.
Anyone who may have been exposed and have symptoms should not go to a healthcare facility without calling first. This way the facility can prepare for the person’s arrival and allow it to provide instructions to reduce possible exposures to others.
Measles is a vaccine-preventable disease, and Missouri statute requires children to have two measles, mumps, and rubella vaccinations before attending school. Individuals should check with the local health department or a physician if they are not adequately immunized.
Call the Grundy County Health Department at 660-359-4196 for more information.
