Virginia Department of Health (VDH) recently reported the state’s first measles incident, identifying the patient as a child under the age of four who recently traveled internationally.
The department has released limited information about the patient, but has confirmed that the child lives in the Northwest area.
Health officials are coordinating efforts to identify potential people exposed, according to a VDH news release.
The outbreak of measles has been declared in the latest eight states announced Thursday in Michigan.
Measles patients (istock)
Michigan Department of Health and Welfare The Oakland County Health Department confirmed the first case of measles in Oakland County on March 14, and the state detected up to eight cases this year.
“This first case of measles in Virginia this year is a reminder of how easily this highly contagious disease can spread, especially on international travel,” said Laurie Forlano, an epidemiologist at VDH.
Forlano said MMR vaccination It remains the best defense against measles, and is “safe and extremely effective” in protecting people and preventing outbreaks.
Two doses of vaccines will be administered to provide lifelong protection.
“We will urge Virginians, especially those planning on travel, to check their vaccination status and speak to them. health care We get the MMR vaccine if necessary with providers,” she said.
Measles outbreaks continue: see which states report cases
The measles recommendations are provided on a message board outside Gaines County Courthouse in Seminole, Texas. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
Anyone who was at Kaiser Permanente Caton Hill Medical Center could have advanced emergency medical care from 10am to 1:30pm on Tuesday, or exposed at the Fredericksburg Medical Center pediatrics department at Kaiser Permanente from Wednesday to 5pm, officials said.
Those who received a vaccine containing measles (measles, mumps, or rubella) [MMR] Vaccines available in other countries or measles-only vaccines) may be at risk for developing measles.
However, those who received two doses of a vaccine containing measles, or who were born before 1957, are protected and do not need to take action.
In Virginia, approximately 95% of kindergarten children are fully vaccinated.
Is MMR vaccine safe for children? Dr. Nicole Saffier addresses concerns as measles cases rise
The child will be vaccinated in Los Angeles on March 25th. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
However, infants who are too young to be vaccinated or unvaccinated are susceptible to measles.
6-11 month infants traveling internationally or to the area Outbreak Reported is that you will need to receive one MMR vaccine before your trip.
According to VDH, it is a highly contagious disease that can easily spread into the air when a person infected with measles breathes, coughs, sneezes or sneezes.
Symptoms usually appear in two stages, with one stage of symptoms: fever with exposure above 101 degrees, runny nose, watery red eyes, and cough fever.
The dangerous fungi spreading to US hospitals “has increased rapidly”
Houston box containing measles vaccinations (Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
The second stage begins 3-5 days after symptoms begin, and a rash appears on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.
Click here to get the Fox News app
Health officials say people with measles are contagious four days before the rash appears, or four days before the rash appears.
Angelica Stabile from Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
