The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) has confirmed a case of measles in a resident of Fulton County. The department is working with the Fulton County Board of Health, Georgia State University (GSU), Inter Atlanta FC, and Sweetgreen to notify people who may have been exposed to the virus and are at higher risk for developing measles.
DPH is advising healthcare providers to remain alert for patients showing symptoms that could indicate measles. According to health officials, symptoms generally appear 7 to 14 days after exposure and include high fever, cough, runny nose, and watery eyes. These symptoms are often followed by a rash of small red spots that usually begins on the head and spreads throughout the body.
The DPH recommends that anyone who becomes ill or believes they might have been exposed to measles should seek medical advice.
Measles can be prevented through vaccination with the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine. “The vaccine is safe and effective. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends children receive their first dose of MMR vaccine between 12 and 15 months of age and a second dose between 4 and 6 years old. More than 95% of people who receive a single dose of MMR will develop immunity to all three viruses. A second dose boosts immunity, typically enhancing protection to 98%.” For more details about measles, individuals can visit the Georgia Department of Public Health’s website at https://dph.georgia.gov/epidemiology/acute-disease-epidemiology/vaccine-preventable-diseases/measles or refer to information from the CDC at https://www.cdc.gov/measles/index.html.
