Alabama Department of Public Health announces first case of measles since 2002

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WRBL) — Officials with the Alabama Department of Public Health announced on Monday the first case of measles in the state since 2002.

According to officials, the agency was notified on Monday that a child under 5 years old living in North Alabama was confirmed to have measles.

ADPH officials say the child, who is unvaccinated, contracted the measles while traveling outside the United States. The child reportedly did not attend daycare or school and the entities involved in the management and treatment of the patient have been notified, according to ADPH.

The siblings of the child were reportedly vaccinated and are not showing signs or symptoms of measles.

Dr. Karen Landers, chief medical officer, reminds parents and guardians to make sure their child is up to date with their measles vaccinations as unvaccinated people have a 90% chance of becoming infected.

“Measles follows a pattern in which the child first develops fever, cough, runny nose, and watery/red eyes, then a rash develops. Persons can start spreading the virus up to four days before symptoms appear, and those with weak immune systems can spread the measles virus longer,” Landers said.

Those infected can spread the disease several days before becoming symptomatic, with measles being a serious viral respiratory illness that lives in the nose and throat mucus of infected people, according to ADPH.

Officials say it spreads when people breathe in or have contact with virus-infected fluid and can pass through droplets sprayed into the air when someone with measles sneezes or coughs. Symptoms usually appear seven to 14 days later.

No specific antiviral drug is available to treat measles, but to help manage the symptoms, parents can ensure the child gets plenty of fluid and rest and give a non-aspirin fever medicine such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. In some cases, measles can lead to other problems, such as ear infections, pneumonia, or encephalitis, according to ADPH.