Alabama public health leaders investigating possible measles case

OPELIKA, Ala. (WIAT) — The Alabama Department of Public Health said the risk for an outbreak of measles is low, but it is testing for a possible case in Lee County.

Dr. Wes Stubblefield with the ADPH said while most people are vaccinated against the disease, there’s a few things people should know.

Stubblefield said one person in Lee County experienced symptoms of measles. He said they were not eligible to receive the vaccine. Eligibility requires being at least 1 year old and having an uncompromised immune system.

Stubblefield said the health department is contacting people who may have been exposed.

“Most individuals are vaccinated against the measles, and the measles vaccine is very effective, even after one dose,” Stubblefield said Monday. “Over 93% effective and conferring lifelong immunity. So at this point, we do not have a confirmed case in Alabama.”

Another physician is sharing her insight on that case.

“It’s not surprising that we are investigating cases of measles,” said Dr. Rachael Lee, an associate professor in the division of infectious diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Lee said that’s because of recent measles outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico. She said symptoms come with high fevers, a cough and a rash. While many are vaccinated, she said the recent outbreak has hospitalized many out West.

“So far since April, we’ve had three children that have died, which is just heartbreaking for me,” Lee said. “Because if we have these things in our toolbelt that we can do to protect them, we want to try to do that to the best of our ability.”

One of those tools, Lee said, was the measles vaccine.

Stubblefield said there’s no other way to cure the disease.

“The only prevention for measles is the vaccine,” Stubblefield said. “There are no specific treatments for a measles infection other than what we call supportive care, which means you provide fluids and antibiotics for other infections and things like that.”

Stubblefield said test results for that case of measles is still pending. He said the ADPH will share more information in the next few days.