EL PASO, Texas ( KTSM )—A patient at the Mendoza Clinic at Fort Bliss showed signs of measles on Friday, April 4, as stated in a press release from the William Beaumont Army Medical Center. This center supervises all healthcare facilities within the base.
It has not been officially diagnosed as measles yet; health professionals are still waiting for the lab results to confirm, according to authorities.
Should you have been a patient or visitor at the clinic between 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Friday, authorities suggest you follow these procedures:
If you're unvaccinated and at least six months old, you should receive the MMR vaccine within 72 hours.
If you have received both doses of the MMR vaccine and are fully vaccinated, you do not require an additional dose. However, keep track of your health over the next 21 days beginning from Saturday, April 5th.
In order to receive the vaccination, you need to visit the nearest network pharmacy such as an Albertsons or Walgreens, or a primary health care center by Monday, April 7th.
"Measles is extremely infectious due to its ability to remain airborne for up to two hours. The virus spreads readily through the air whenever an infected individual coughs or sneezes. It’s possible to catch measles simply by entering a space where an infected person was present, even if they have since departed," stated William Beaumont in a press statement.
The incubation period lasts around 10 days but may stretch as long as 21 days, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The symptoms of measles include a fever reaching 101 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, accompanied by coughing, a runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, reddened eyes, and a skin rash that initially appears on the face before spreading across the entire body.
As stated in the news release, should you be encountering any of these signs, contact your main healthcare provider to request a telemedicine appointment. In cases where you believe your condition may be immediately dangerous, proceed directly to the closest emergency department for assessment.
"Although numerous individuals make a full recovery from measles, the illness has the potential to lead to severe complications, particularly among young children. That’s precisely why preventive measures hold such significance. The measles vaccine demonstrates remarkable efficacy; receiving two doses confers approximately 97% immunity against the virus, rendering it one of our most potent means of defense," stated Beaumont Army Medical Center.
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