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CCHD offers advice to help protect against measles

Posted at 2:45 PM, Feb 11, 2019
and last updated 2019-02-11 17:04:40-05

The Cascade City-County Health Department (CCHD) has offered advice to help residents amid the recent measles outbreaks in New York and Washington state.

In 2018, 372 cases were reported from 26 states in the U.S. with an additional 79 cases reported in 10 states since January 1, 2019, according to a press release.

City-county health officials stated no cases of measles have been identified in Montana since 1990.

CCHD officials said to be aware of local measles risk in the places you intend to visit if traveling.

Measles is a highly infectious disease and if someone who has measles has been in a specific location (such as a doctor’s office), that area is considered contaminated for up to two hours after they have left, according to the CCHD.

Health officials request that if someone is not feeling well and suspects measles, it is important to call the doctor’s office before going to a clinic or emergency room.

Symptoms for measles usually start with fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, and sore throat. The individual will then develop a rash that spreads over the body. It is highly contagious and spreads through coughing and sneezing.

CCHD officials said individuals can receive the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine. They have the vaccine on hand and public health nurses are available for immunizations on a walk-in basis during clinic hours.

CCHD Immunization Clinic Hours:
Tuesday:  8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Wednesday-Friday:  8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.; 1 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.