Collin County Health Care Services identified a confirmed case of measles on Thursday, Aug. 23.
The individual was unvaccinated, had traveled internationally, and then attended Plano West Senior High School between Aug. 14–16 during their infectious period. The individual also spent a limited amount of time, while contagious, at Whole Foods Preston Park Colonnade on Aug. 14, between noon and 1 p.m. There were no other public locations reported by the individual.
Collin County Health Care Services (CCHCS) is working to contact persons at private locations at this time. Currently, there are no secondary cases.
Measles is highly contagious and is transmitted primarily from person to person by respiratory droplets and airborne spread. Individuals are contagious from four days before the onset of a rash to four days after the rash appears. Infectious droplets can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected individual has left the area.
Symptoms of measles include rash, fever of 101°F or higher, cough, runny nose, or eye redness. Any person suspected of having measles should contact their health care provider and stay at home until four days after the rash onset has passed.
People suspected to have contact with this individual should monitor themselves for symptoms of measles for 21 days after exposure.
If you experience or have experienced measles symptoms, or if you have questions, please contact your healthcare provider immediately. Measles is a very contagious airborne disease. If you develop symptoms and decide you want to be seen at your doctor's office or at a healthcare facility, such as an emergency department or emergency clinic, please call them first and inform them you were possibly exposed to measles so that they may implement necessary precautions to inhibit further spread of the disease.
Physicians and other healthcare providers are requested to consider measles in the initial differential diagnosis of individuals presenting with symptoms compatible with the disease, particularly individuals who have traveled abroad or have come into contact with a known measles case, regardless of vaccination status.
CCHCS requests that healthcare providers, who have a suspected case of measles, take appropriate infection control precautions and immediately report any suspected cases to our office, our main line during business hours is 972-548-4707.
Suspected cases should be triaged quickly and moved from waiting areas to individual rooms with appropriate airborne isolation precautions. Individuals with suspected measles should be excluded from work or school until cleared by Collin County Health Care Services.
Collin County Health Care Service's Chief Epidemiologist,
Dr. Jawaid Asghar reminds the community to "talk to your doctor about the benefits of immunization and get vaccinated if you are eligible or able."
The MMR vaccine has been proven to be safe and effective against measles. With the recommended two doses, the effectiveness of preventing measles is 97 percent. The first dose of the vaccine is recommended for all children 12-15 months with the second dose following between 4-6 years of age. Detailed guidelines related to measles vaccination are
available here.
