It has been about 18 years since a measles case was reported in the State of Oklahoma, but the health department seems unable to keep the disease at bay any longer. The person in question had been travelling abroad recently and is also spouse of an Oklahoma state university student. Since the disease is contagious, the situation is very alarming. The Stillwater health department has requested at least 14 days to rule out the spread of the virus.
It is believed that the patient in question contacted the disease whilst abroad United Airlines, which could possibly mean that there is another carrier out there. The first step that the health department is taking is to try and alert the passengers abroad the plane. For this they are coordinating with the centers for disease control and prevention. A list of places recently visited by the carrier patient has also been released.
The health department has also been busy trying to calm down the residents of still water. If you have had measles before or received the vaccine as a child, then you need not worry. If you believe that you have been exposed, you should look for the following symptoms:
- A moderate to high fever.
- Runny Nose and cough.
- Progressing rash, starting from the face.
The symptoms can take up to 18 days to show, so be patient and stay calm, until something shows up. You should check with your doctor once the symptoms start to show. The US health department has pointed out that there has been a decrease in childhood vaccination rates and an increase in the rate of travel, which has caused the re-introduction of the disease.
The vaccines not only help prevent measles, but are also very effective against mumps and rubella. This could mean that the individuals prone to measles can also be prone to these two diseases. This is a major health risk, one which demands immediate attention.
