Measles Confirmed in Massachusetts

Health officials have issued a public health alert after two cases of measles were confirmed just outside of Boston, Massachusetts.

The Massachusetts Department of Health issued an official public health warning Monday after it was fully confirmed that two people hospitalized for measles-like symptoms did in fact contract the highly contagious and dangerous disease. Patrons of a Trader Joe's in Farmingham, Massachusetts -- a town just outside of Boston city -- were the first to be warned about the outbreak. According to statements released by state health officials, both patients had shopped at the food retailer sometime between February 15 and 16.

Patrons and employees of the Trader Joe's in question were given access to free measles vaccinations last week if they believed that had been exposed. Most people in the United States have been vaccinated against the disease, or were exposed to it as children, making them immune. Still health officials urged anyone feeling unwell who may have been exposed to avoid public areas and call their doctors.

While measles has almost been eliminated entirely in the United States thanks to immunization efforts, it still kills and estimated 164,000 people each year around the world, according to the Centers for Disease Control and prevention (CDC). Measles is a reparatory disease caused and spread by virus, and can be transmitted through coughing, sneezing, and even breathing the same uncirculated air as an infected person. According to the CDC, the virus is so contagious, that anyone who is not immunized will probably get the disease.

Most importantly, while it can be carried and transmitted by an adult, the virus targets children in particular. Generally a week into infection, a child will begin to develop a cough, high fever, blotchy rash, red eyes, and tiny white spots with bluish white centers found inside the mouth. While these symptoms will go away after a few days, the infection commonly leads to more dangerous complications such as pneumonia or a dangerous swelling of the brain. According to the CDC, one or two out of 1000 children die from measles, and the virus has been known to encourage a premature birth or miscarriage in mothers.

Another case of measles exposure happened earlier this month in California. No new cases of measles have been reported to stem from the incident.

The public health warning was released on February 24 by the Massachusetts Department of Health.