The Tennessee Department of Health State Public Health Laboratory has confirmed two additional cases of measles in residents of East Tennessee.
This brings the total number of measles cases in Tennessee in 2019 to three.
The two new cases are associated with the first measles case in Tennessee this year which was announced April 18, and were identified as part of the ongoing contact investigation, according to TDH.
April 18, 2019: 1st measles case diagnosed in East Tennessee
“We expected to have more measles cases linked to the first one, and these new cases occurred in people we had identified and were monitoring as contacts of the first patient,” said Tennessee Immunization Program Medical Director Michelle Fiscus, MD, FAAP. “The good news is there are no additional contacts of these new cases that have not already been identified.”
Doctors say they may not be the last measles cases we hear about in East Tennessee.
"We may not have seen the end of this current outbreak yet," Dr. Mark Rasnake said.
Rasnake specializes in infectious diseases at UT Medical Center.
"It could be several weeks before we know this outbreak is ended," Rasnake said. "If we don't see any more cases after today, it would still be a few more weeks before we know for sure that it's over."
Rasnake says that's because of the virus' incubation period--the time between when it enters your body and when you start seeing symptoms.
"The flu virus only has a incubation period of a couple days from the time you're exposed to the time you get sick," Rasnake said. "Measles kind of falls in the middle of the spectrum, and then there are some viruses, like hepatitis viruses, where it may be a month or more from exposure before you know you're sick."
While this outbreak investigation is currently centered in East Tennessee, TDH said all Tennesseans should be aware of measles and its symptoms.
Symptoms include runny nose, body aches, watery eyes and white spots in the mouth. Several days after these symptoms start, a red, spotty rash typically begins on the face and spreads over the body.
Symptoms may develop any time in the 21 days following exposure to the illness. Nearly one in three measles patients will develop ear infections, diarrhea or pneumonia. Measles can be fatal in approximately one to two out of every 1,000 cases.
All Tennesseans are urged to ensure they are up-to date on MMR vaccine, which is extremely effective in preventing infection.
"The vast majority of people in East Tennessee have nothing to worry about from measles, because we've been vaccinated and we're immune," Rasnake said.
He says you can check the Kindergarten Immunization Compliance Assessment online for your child's school.
"One of the first things I did when measles was reported in the community was check my kid's school vaccine database that the state publishes," Rasnake said. "And over 95 percent of the kids in my kid's school were protected against measles, and that's really good news."
He says if you're not vaccinated, you need to do that soon.
"I am worried about individuals who may not have immunity, I think those folks have a legitimate concern," Rasnake said.
The measles virus is highly contagious and can stay airborne or live on surfaces for up to two hours. People recently infected with measles may not have any symptoms of illness, but can transmit the virus for about five days before the typical measles rash appears.
TDH said anyone who believes they or a loved one has measles symptoms should stay home and contact a health care provider to make arrangements to visit a health care facility before going to a health care center to prevent further exposure of others to the illness.
TDH is providing information about measles and how to prevent it online. This page includes the number of measles cases in the state this year, which will be updated daily by 3 p.m. Central time if additional cases are confirmed.
People with questions about how to protect themselves against measles should call a health care provider, the local health department or a hotline established to provide answers to questions from the public about measles. The hotline number is 865-549-5343; calls to the hotline will be answered from 7 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Central time/8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Eastern time.
For more information about measles, visit the CDC website.