Martha's Vineyard Hospital in Oak Bluffs, Mass., has issued a measles alert after an unvaccinated child visiting from another state was evaluated in the hospital's emergency department and diagnosed with the virus.
Here are five things to know about the alert and the hospital's response.
1. The unvaccinated child visited the Martha's Vineyard ED and was diagnosed with measles on June 17. The child was immediately isolated following the diagnosis.
2. The child had been on the island for more than a week before the symptoms appeared, meaning individuals on the island were exposed to the virus during a phase of the illness in which the patient is infectious but has no symptoms.
3. The hospital released a list of known times and dates of exposure between June 8 and June 17. Possible exposure locations include two local public libraries, a restaurant and a family amusement center.
4. Martha's Vineyard Hospital will be holding a free measles immunization clinic on June 24 from 5-9 p.m.
5. Massachusetts Commissioner of Public Health Monica Bharel, MD, issued a public statement, saying, "As most measles cases in the U.S. have been among unvaccinated people and people who don't know their vaccination status, it is important for people to confirm their immunization status with their healthcare provider, and for parents to have their children vaccinated with the measles vaccine (called MMR), which is safe and highly effective."
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