State Health Department confirms measles case

The Oklahoma State Department of Health and the Cleveland County Health Department are investigating a confirmed case of measles in Norman located in Cleveland County. This is the first confirmed case in Oklahoma since 2015.

Measles was identified in a person who had returned to Oklahoma after international travel. Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease and spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus may remain airborne up to 2 hours in a room after the person with measles has left an indoor area.

Based on collected information about the measles case during the time the person was contagious, public health officials want to alert anyone who visited the following locations in Norman during the specified times about potential exposure to the measles virus:

• Norman Pediatrics (808 Wall Street, Norman, OK) during the following dates and times:

• Friday, Feb. 2 from 9:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 6 from 11:15 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

• Chuck E Cheese’s (2201 Interstate Drive, Norman, OK) on Saturday, Feb. 3 from 12:45 – 3:30 p.m.

• Norman Regional HealthPlex (3300 HealthPlex Parkway, Norman, OK) on Tuesday, Feb. 6 from 12:25 – 3:30 p.m. The specific areas include outpatient registration, emergency room waiting, and laboratory collection services.

The OSDH is collaborating with officials of these organizations to identify persons that may have visited the above mentioned locations to inform them of their exposure and provide recommendations.

Persons are protected if they are immunized with two doses of a measles-containing vaccine after the first birthday, or if they were born during or before 1957.

Those who think they may have been at risk of exposure should review their immunization records and contact the Cleveland County Health Department at (405) 321-4048, Ext. 260, their local county health department or the OSDH epidemiologist-on-call at (800) 234-5963 (24/7/365 availability).

Persons who are susceptible to measles usually develop symptoms about 10 days after exposure with a range of 7-21 days. Symptoms of measles begin with a mild to moderate fever, runny nose, red eyes, and cough. A few days later, a rash appears, starting on the face, spreading to the rest of the body, accompanied by a fever that can reach up to 105 degrees.

Measles can lead to pneumonia and other complications, especially in young children and adults over 20. The disease can also cause serious problems in pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems.

Individuals that were exposed and are not experiencing symptoms of illness do not need to be evaluated by a healthcare provider. If you experience symptoms of illness suggestive of measles, contact your healthcare provider before presenting for care to discuss instructions for check-in and registration.

People with measles can spread the virus up to four days before the onset of the rash and until four days after the rash starts. Measles can be prevented with the measles vaccine (usually given in combination with rubella and mumps, called MMR vaccine), and is recommended for all children at 12 to 15 months of age and again at four to six years of age. If a person has not received a second dose of the vaccine between four to six years of age, the booster dose may be given at any age thereafter. Two doses of vaccine normally provide lifelong immunity.