A recent outbreak of measles has been confirmed in both New Hampshire and Vermont, with a total of three patients identified as infected. The source of the infection is believed to be an international traveler who visited Hanover, New Hampshire, in late June. The traveler is also believed to have infected a resident from Vermont during their stay.
The unvaccinated New Hampshire resident visited several public locations while infectious and may have exposed others to the virus. These locations include Peppermint Patty's in Grantham, Sierra Trading Post in West Lebanon, Dartmouth Co-op in Hanover (twice), and ClearChoiceMD Urgent Care waiting room in Lebanon (twice). The Vermont resident took the Dartmouth Coach bus from New York City to Hanover on July 3 at 1:30 p.m.
Measles is a highly contagious infectious disease that can cause serious complications, especially for young children and those with weakened immune systems. Symptoms of measles include high fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes several days before developing a body rash.
Health officials urge anyone who may have been in contact with the infected individuals or visited the aforementioned locations during the specified dates and times to monitor for symptoms and contact their healthcare provider if they develop any signs of measles.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that vaccine exemptions amongst U.S. children entering kindergarten have hit an all-time high, which may contribute to the spread of infectious diseases like measles.
It is important to ensure that you are vaccinated against measles and other preventable diseases to protect yourself and those around you. Vaccines provide lifelong protection for most people and are the best defense against viruses like measles.
