West Virginia is reporting its first case of measles since 2009, according to the West Virginia Department of Health. The WVDOH confirmed that the first case of measles was found in an under-vaccinated individual who had recently traveled internationally. As a result, 152 people were potentially exposed, with 62 of them lacking documentation of adequate immunization against measles and being considered at high risk of infection.
New information released by the WVDOH on Saturday revealed that those potentially exposed to the virus were located in various counties across West Virginia, including Berkeley, Braxton, Brooke, Doddridge, Gilmer, Grant, Greenbrier, Hampshire, Hancock, Kanawha, Logan, Marion, Marshall, Mason, McDowell, Mercer, Mineral, Monongalia, Ohio, Pendleton, Pleasants, Preston, Putnam, Randolph, Roane, Summers, Taylor, Wetzel, and Wood.
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory illness that can have serious complications such as pneumonia, brain swelling, and even death. Symptoms of measles typically start with a fever, followed by a cough, runny nose, and a red rash. The rash usually begins around the head and then spreads to other parts of the body.
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