Contact: Hildy Meyers, M.D
Pager: 714.834.8024
June 9, 2000
ORANGE COUNTY PUBLIC
HEALTH WARNS OF POSSIBLE MEASLES EXPOSURE
(Santa Ana) - Today
Dr. Mark Horton announced that some members of the public
might have been exposed to the virus that causes measles
when they attended the Season Finale of the Orange County
High School of the Arts at the Orange County Performing
Arts Center on June 4, 2000, at 7:30 p.m. One person in
attendance was subsequently diagnosed with measles, and
this was confirmed by the Orange County Public Health
Laboratory.
Measles (also sometimes called "rubeola", "red
measles", or "ten-day measles") is caused
by a virus that spreads very easily by direct contact
and by air. "Simply being in the same room with someone
who has measles is enough to become infected," Dr.
Horton said. The illness usually starts about 10 days
after exposure with fever, cough, runny nose, and/or red
watery eyes that are sensitive to light. Between 2 - 4
days later, a blotchy rash starts on the face and spreads
downward. One in twenty people develop pneumonia, and
more rarely, serious, even life-threatening complications
can occur.
Most people born in 1956 or earlier are immune because
they had the disease, which was very common before the
measles vaccine was introduced. People who have had one
dose of the measles vaccine (usually given in combination
with mumps and rubella vaccines) may not be completely
protected against the infection. A second dose of measles
vaccine is recommended for all children and college students,
and for health care workers and international travelers
born in or after 1957.
Persons who attended the event at the Orange County Performing
Arts Center on June 4 who develop an illness with high
fever (101° F or more), cough, runny nose or red eyes
(with or without a rash) should:
STAY HOME and avoid contact with young children
If medical attention is needed, call ahead and inform
the facility that you might have measles so that exposure
to others can be prevented.
Call Public Health at (714) 834-8180, Monday through Friday,
8:00 AM to 5:00 PM to report your illness.
Recorded information concerning the June 4 exposure is
available at all hours by calling (714) 834-7766.
Anyone who thinks they need measles vaccine should discuss
this with their doctor. The vaccine is available free
of charge for children aged 2-18 years through the Vaccines
for Children (VFC) program and Orange County Public Health
programs. The Orange County Health Referral line at (800)
564-8448 provides information on the locations where free
vaccine is available.
Legal