West Virginia Reports Measles Exposure: Urgent Measures to Protect Public Health

About 152 people in 30 counties in West Virginia have been exposed to measles, state health authorities said Friday.

The West Virginia Department of Health (WVDH) announced earlier this week that the state has seen its first confirmed case of measles since 2009. The patient was unvaccinated and had recently traveled internationally, according to the department.

State health officials reported that dozens of people have been exposed since then, including 128 West Virginia residents and 24 out-of-state contacts from four adjacent states. According to WVDH, 62% of those who were exposed do not have proof demonstrating they are immune to measles and are therefore in danger.

“The Bureau for Public Health is strongly recommending those exposed individuals with no evidence of immunity against the virus quarantine until May 9 or 10, 2024, depending on their last date of exposure,” the agency said in a news release. The WVDH did not respond immediately to ABC News’ request for comment.

The news of the possible exposure comes amid a rapid increase in measles cases in the first quarter of 2024, owing in part to several localized outbreaks, including at a children’s hospital and daycare center in Philadelphia, an elementary school in Florida, and a migrant center in Chicago.

As of Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) documented 128 cases in 19 states. According to the Federal Health Ministry, more than half of those sick were children under the age of five, and 81% were unvaccinated or had an unclear vaccination status.

Measles is a highly contagious virus. According to the CDC, a patient with measles can infect up to 90% of close contacts who are not immune, either through prior illness or immunization.

The CDC presently recommends that everyone take two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination, the first at ages 12 to 15 months and the second at ages 4 to 6. According to the CDC, one dose of the measles vaccination is 93% effective at preventing infection after being exposed to the virus, and two doses are 97% effective.

The WVDH said it is working closely with the Monongalia County Health Department, where the confirmed measles case was discovered, to ensure that health officials have enough testing supplies and MMR vaccine available.

“The Bureau for Public Health recommends the safe and effective MMR vaccination as part of a routine vaccination schedule for all children and adults,” the agency said in a press release. “With summer travel coming up and people going to and coming from countries that have seen sharp upticks in measles cases, the time is now to be sure you and your family members are up-to-date on their MMR vaccine.”