JACKSON, Wyo. — A fifth case of the measles has been reported in Teton County, according to a Tuesday update by the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH). Amid what is considered an outbreak of the disease, the Teton County Health Department (TCHD) has expanded its eligibility requirements for the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
In a new video shared by the agency, TCHD Director Travis Riddell recommends that babies in the 6 to 12 months age group get a first dose of the MMR vaccine to be protected from the disease, when the first dose is usually delivered at 1 year old, followed by a second dose at 4 or 5. Kids under 5 are encouraged to get that second dose early under these circumstances.
“The early infant dose doesn’t replace the routine two-dose series,” TCHD posted to social media along with a video of Riddell. “They’ll still get those on schedule, which means three total doses. Extra protection during an outbreak is the point.”
This new recommendation arrived just after the announcement of the fifth confirmed case in the county, marking the sixth case in the state this year. WDH noted that the latest adult to be diagnosed “had direct exposure to a previously identified case.” The public is advised that they might have been exposed to the measles at Smith’s Food and Drug on Wednesday, July 8, between the hours of 9 a.m. and noon. The highly contagious virus can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person was present.
Measles can cause serious illnesses including pneumonia and encephalitis, which can lead to hospitalization and even 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 health care provider for guidance. Infants, non-immune pregnant women and immunocompromised people are at the highest risk.
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.
