The infected person can leave the room. The measles virus can remain behind.
That danger now frames a growing outbreak associated with a daycare setting in metro Atlanta. The Georgia Department of Public Health confirmed Tuesday four additional cases among close contacts of a measles case confirmed last week.
The affected children were unvaccinated or had not completed their vaccinations. The department is working to identify other close contacts of the cases.
Measles spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus can linger in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours after that person leaves a room, making the search for those who may have been exposed especially important.
Symptoms usually emerge seven to 14 days after exposure. They typically begin with a high fever, cough, runny nose and watery eyes. A rash of tiny red spots follows, starting at the head before spreading across the rest of the body.
Anyone who develops symptoms should contact a healthcare provider immediately. The department advises patients to call before arriving at a doctor’s office, hospital or public health clinic so staff members know about the symptoms in advance.
The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine protects against all three illnesses. The Department of Public Health described the vaccine as safe and effective.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends children receive the first dose between 12 and 15 months of age and the second between 4 and 6 years of age. Parents with questions about the vaccine or the recommended schedule should consult their physician.
For families connected to the daycare outbreak, the concern extends beyond the moment of contact. Measles can take days to announce itself, while the virus can remain after an infected child has left the room.
B.T. Clark is the Publisher of The Georgia Sun and author of Principles Are Like Pants… You Ought to Have Some. Over two decades in journalism, he has served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc., earning multiple awards along the way. His work has appeared in newspapers across the state, including The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal.
- B.T. Clark
- B.T. Clark
- B.T. Clark
- B.T. Clark
