WYOMING — Five new cases of measles have been reported in Fremont County, bringing this year’s statewide case total to 14, according to a Thursday update by the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH).
The five new cases include adults and children in the same chain of transmission, all of whom were unvaccinated, per WDH. None were hospitalized. The exposure occurred out of state.
WDH noted that members of the public could have been exposed on the afternoon of Dec. 1 at the Flying J Travel Center in Evanston, explaining that the measles virus can “remain in the air for up to two hours after an infectious individual leaves an area.” WDH said it has not identified any other locations in the state where the general public was potentially exposed.
Wyoming’s first case of measles since 2010 was identified this July in Natrona County. Since then, cases have been reported in Niobrara and Carbon counties. The highly contagious virus can cause serious illnesses including pneumonia and encephalitis, which can lead to hospitalization and death. Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose, red or watery eyes and a rash that starts on the face and spreads down the body. People who get sick with these symptoms should call their healthcare provider for guidance.
WDH recommends that all Wyoming residents ensure that they and their children are up to date on the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, which provides highly effective and long-lasting protection against the virus.
For more information on measles, including guidance on what to do if exposed, visit the WDH website. As more information becomes available, WDH will post locations of potential exposure, if any, and updated case counts.
