Amarillo Public Health (APH) is helping residents with valuable information and tips regarding the measles virus.
As of Wednesday (February 26), there are no reported measles cases in Potter or Randall counties. Cases of measles have been reported in the Texas Panhandle and South Plains.
“Prevention and preparation against the measles virus are crucial in helping the community,” said APH Director Casie Stoughton. “Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus, which can cause life-threatening illness to anyone not protected. Vaccination is the best protection against measles.”
APH does provide measles vaccinations.
Measles can be transmitted by direct contact with infectious droplets or by airborne spread when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. The virus can remain infectious in the air up to two hours.
Symptoms appear seven to 21 days after contact and may include:
- High fever (101 or greater); cough; runny nose; red and watery eyes.
- Two to three days after symptoms begin, tiny white spots (Koplik spots) may appear inside the mouth. Three to five days after symptoms begin, a rash that appears flat and red may appear on the face and hairline. This rash tends to spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet.
A person is contagious about four days before the rash appears to four days after the appearance.
People who could have measles should stay home during this period. People who think they have measles or may have been exposed to measles should isolate themselves and call their healthcare provider before arriving to be tested.
The best way to prevent getting sick is to be immunized with two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, which is primarily administered as the combination measles-mumps-rubella or MMR vaccine. The Texas Department of State Health Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend children receive one dose of MMR at 12 to 15 months of age and another at four to six years.
APH is providing measles information and FAQs at: www.amarillo.gov/public-health/
For more information on the MMR vaccine call APH at 806-378-6342. For more information on measles call APH at 806-378-6321.
Also for more information contact City of Amarillo Media Relations Manager Dave Henry at 806-378-5219 or by email at david.henry@amarillo.gov.
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