Webmaster’s note: The Department of Health has updated information regarding the date and times for the potential exposure. Updated information is contained in this release.
News release from the Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health:
Update: Health officials issue Measles alert
Patrons & Employees of the Maysville Road Kohl’s and Walmart Stores urged to monitor for any measles-related symptoms
(May 27, 2016) – Officials with the Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health were just made aware that the date of potential exposure of patrons and employees of the Maysville Road Kohl’s (located at 10310 Maysville Rd, Fort Wayne, IN 46835) and Walmart (10420 Maysville Rd Fort Wayne IN, 46835) was actually May 18, 2016, NOT May 20, 2016.
Please understand that when we are interviewing patients, they can become a bit confused trying to remember all of their activities clearly. Our goal is, as always, to keep the public informed as we receive the information. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Public health officials now encourage those patrons and employees of the Maysville Road Kohl’s and Walmart who were present at those stores on May 18, 2016 between the hours of 5p.m. and 8:30p.m. to monitor themselves for any measles-related symptoms especially if they have not been vaccinated with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. This was the ONLY day of exposure.
The opportunity for intervention has passed, so any preventative vaccine or medicine would not prevent measles from developing in unvaccinated individuals who were exposed. Therefore, health officials urge those who were at those respective stores on May 18, 2016 between 5p.m. and 8:30p.m. to please monitor themselves for symptoms of measles until June 8, 2016.
Symptoms include:
- High Fever (101 F or higher)
- Rash that starts at hairline and spreads throughout body
- Runny nose
- Cough
- Red and watery eyes
- Sore throat and other cold-like symptoms
Individuals who develop those symptoms should seek medical attention immediately.
Patrons who visited those respective stores prior to 6 p.m. on May 18, 2016 were not exposed to the virus. Further, there is no current risk associated with visiting those stores as this was an isolated exposure period on that date.
Measles is a highly contagious virus and spreads through the air through coughing and sneezing. Individuals who have not received their measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine can get measles just by being in a room where a person with measles has been.
Symptoms of measles generally appear about 7-14 days after a person is infected, but can occur up to 21 days after exposure. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), measles typically begins with high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. Two or three days after symptoms begin, tiny white spots may appear inside the mouth. Three to five days after symptoms begin, a rash breaks out. It usually begins as flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline and spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet. When the rash appears, a person’s fever may spike to more than 104 degrees Fahrenheit. After a few days, the fever subsides and the rash fades.
The best protection against measles is measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. The MMR vaccine provides long-lasting protection against all strains of measles. While the opportunity for intervention for this exposure has passed, people are encouraged to obtain the MMR vaccination if they have not already done so to protect against any future exposure. People can contact their primary healthcare provider to schedule any needed vaccinations or they can be obtained through the Health Department by calling for an appointment at 260-449-7514.
The individual with measles is working closely and cooperatively with both local and state health officials in the current investigation, and the Maysville Road Kohl’s and Walmart remain open for business.
The Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health has established an information line at (260) 449-XXXX to provide answers to common questions about the measles.
The phone line will be staffed during normal business hours and from 9:00am-1:00pm on Saturday, May 28, 2016. At other times callers may hear a recorded voice message.
For more information, visit www.allencountyhealth.com. You can also check for updates on Facebook and Twitter.
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