For the third time in a month, Pittsburgh residents were exposed to measles in the city.
Some visitors and staff at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh recently came into contact with a person who tested
positive for measles, Allegheny County Health Department warned on Sept. 1. The department was in the process of conducting contact tracing.
The exposure took place just two days after the state department of health announced that there had been two measles-associated deaths among Lancaster County residents.
Here's when and where the exposures in Pittsburgh happened.
How many people were exposed to Pittsburgh measles case?
It's not clear exactly how many people were exposed to measles. But on Aug. 27, multiple groups of UPMC visitors and staff were exposed to an out-of-county individual with measles during various time periods at several locations, the county health department said. Locations include:
- Giraffe/Hippo Waiting Room on the 3rd floor from 1 to 4 p.m.
- Giraffe Clinic on the 3rd floor from 2 to 5 p.m.
- Cafeteria on the 3rd floor from 3 to 5 p.m.
- Main Lobby on the 1st floor from 1 to 5 p.m.
- Grape/Purple Elevators from 1 to 5 p.m.
Previously, measles exposures took place on Aug. 12 and Aug. 18 at UPMC Children's Hospital when an out-of-county individual with the disease visited the emergency department.
How many measles cases are there in Pittsburgh?
There were no confirmed cases of measles among Pittsburgh or Allegheny residents as of Sept. 2. Exposures at UPMC occurred only with out-of-county residents, according to Allegheny County Health Department.
The county health department noted on Sept. 1 that it didn't have any evidence or data showing that any residents currently had measles. If a patient has measles, the county health department is only informed if the patient is a resident of Allegheny or if there have been potential exposures that the provider can't identify all exposed persons. If the patient is from another county, they're handled by that county's health department or the state department of health.
How does measles spread?
Measles spreads through the air when a sick person breathes, coughs or sneezes, according to the Centers for Disease Control. It can remain infectious in the air for up to two hours after a person who is sick with the virus leaves the area.
Unvaccinated people are most at risk of catching the disease, the county health department said. Two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine provides about 97% immunity from measles, according to the CDC. But young children typically don't get their second dose until they reach four to six years of age, leaving them with about 93% protection against the disease. Infants generally don't get their first dose until they're 12 to 15 months old.
What are the signs of measles?
Measles symptoms generally appear within seven to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus, according to the CDC, though the incubation period can last up to 21 days. Symptoms can include a high fever, cough, runny nose, red/watery eyes, white spots inside the mouth and a rash that begins on the face at the hairline and moves downward on the body.
The virus can also cause numerous complications, including ear infections, diarrhea, lasting immune system damage, hospitalization, pneumonia, encephalitis, pregnancy problems and death.
People who believe they were exposed to measles and are experiencing symptoms should contact their healthcare provider, the county health department said. Allegheny County residents who are worried about possible exposures should call Allegheny County Health Department at 412-687-2243. UPMC Children’s patients and families with questions or concerns can call 412-692-3100 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Residents throughout Pennsylvania who are concerned about potential exposures should call the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s toll-free hotline at 877-PA-HEALTH. Pennsylvanians can access the measles dashboard, current guidance and additional information at pa.gov/measles.
How many measles cases have there been in Pennsylvania?
As of Sept. 2 morning, the state's measles dashboard showed a total of 497 confirmed cases of measles, with 100 new cases in the past week. But the dashboard was set to be updated later in the day with additional cases.
Most cases were not near Pittsburgh but were instead concentrated in Lancaster County, which reported 227 infections. Chester had the second most cases — 50 — while Mifflin reported 43.
Has anyone died from measles in Pennsylvania this year?
The state department of health confirmed two deaths that were associated with measles on Aug. 25. This means that there was laboratory or epidemiological evidence of the disease, even if a medical certifier or coroner didn't say the disease was the immediate cause of death.
Lancaster County's coroner told reporters that his office was investigating the death of an infant who tested positive for measles and died from a ruptured spleen, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. The infant, born to a mother who was sick with measles, died shortly after birth, The Atlantic reported. The primary cause of death was a laceration of the spleen, though measles antibodies were found in postmortem testing.
Measles infections acquired during pregnancy can cause complications to both the pregnant person and the fetus, according to the Mayo Clinic, including pregnancy loss, fetal death or complications with fetal development. The disease can also be passed on to infants if the mother is sick and develops a rash within 10 days of giving birth, and measles can cause an enlarged spleen, Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, told the Inquirer.
While Debra Bogen, Pennsylvania's secretary of health, said in a statement published to X that she had reviewed both deaths and confirmed that both were associated with measles, the Centers for Disease Control did not include the deaths in their count.
"This week's measles outbreaks update will not include the two measles-associated deaths reported by the Pennsylvania Department of Health on August 25 while CDC reviews additional information regarding the circumstances and causes of death," the agency said on its website. "At this time, available information does not establish whether measles caused or contributed to the deaths or whether the individuals died from other causes while infected with measles. CDC will update the national count as additional information becomes available."
Finch Walker is the Pittsburgh Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Contact Walker at FWalker@usatodayco.com. Instagram: @finchwalker_. X: @_finchwalker.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Third Pittsburgh measles exposure counted among UPMC staff, visitors
