Measles, a highly contagious respiratory virus can often produce a spotty red rash. Measles symptoms can take one to three weeks to develop, but people can spread the virus even before symptoms develop.
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Two travelers visiting New Mexico may have exposed people to measles at the Albuquerque International Sunport and other locations across Bernalillo, Santa Fe and Sandoval counties over the past two weeks, health officials said on Friday. Other locations included Walmarts in Albuquerque and Santa Fe and an indoor pool in Rio Rancho.
The New Mexico Department of Health reported that two separate travelers were diagnosed with measles cases in the state: an adult with unknown vaccination status and an 18-month old with at least one vaccine.
“These two cases remind us that travel remains an exposure risk when it comes to this contagious virus,” said NMDOH Chief Medical Officer Dr. Miranda Durham in a statement. “The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine remains the best protection against measles.”
The travelers’ diagnoses do not impact New Mexico’s measles infections, which remain at 81 cases Friday.
The reported cases may have exposed people at the following places, dates and times:
Rio Rancho
1 to 4 p.m. on Monday, June 2: Rio Rancho Aquatic Center, 745 Loma Colorado NE
Santa Fe
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 5: Walmart Supercenter, 5701 Herrera Drive
Albuquerque
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, June 6: Walmart Supercenter, 2550 Coors Boulevard NW
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, June 6: El Super, 4201 Central Avenue NW
9:30 a.m. to 1:40 p.m. on Tuesday, June 10: University of New Mexico Hospital Adult Urgent Care, 2211 Lomas Boulevard NE
3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 10: Albuquerque International Sunport, 2200 Sunport Blvd
- Main terminal and TSA Security Checkpoint
- Terminal A: Gate A-6
NMDOH urged anyone who was possibly exposed to check vaccination status and to stay home if symptoms such as a rash or fever develop. Further questions about testing, vaccinations and potential treatment can be directed to the NMDOH Hotline at 1-833-796-8773.
Measles symptoms do not develop immediately, often between one to three weeks from exposure. People are infectious several days before and after symptoms such as headache, cough, runny nose, red eyes, fever, and spotty red rash appear.
Additional information, such as vaccine clinic hours, is available on NMDOH’s measles webpage.
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This post was originally authored and published by Danielle Prokop from via RSS Feed. to get your news feed on Nationwide Report®.
