PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — City health officials are warning the public that a patient with measles recently visited a couple of public health facilities and may have exposed others to the illness.
The city and state health departments said the case was traced to the following dates and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia locations:
— South Philadelphia Health and Literacy Center, 1700 S. Broad St.
Friday, March 7, between 10:45 a.m. and 2:40 p.m.
Saturday, March 8, between 9:05 a.m. and 1:20 p.m.
This building includes CHOP Pediatric Primary Care South Philadelphia, Health Department Health Center #2, and the South Philadelphia Library, though officials said there were no potential exposures in the library.
— CHOP Emergency Department, 3401 Civic Center Blvd.
Monday, March 10, 7:55 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
Officials said the infected individual was exposed while traveling abroad, and they visited the CHOP facilities while seeking a diagnosis.
Earlier this month, a Montgomery County child who was too young to get the MMR vaccine contracted the disease while traveling abroad. However, Philadelphia officials said this exposure is not related to that case or cases in other parts of the country.
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“We believe there is no threat to the general public associated with this case of measles,” said Philadelphia Health Commissioner Dr. Palak Raval-Nelson.
Anyone who is not vaccinated and believes they may have been exposed is advised to contact their health care provider. Individuals who develop symptoms between now and March 31 should immediately contact their doctor and notify the Philadelphia Department of Public Health by calling 215-685-6740, then pressing option 5.
The ongoing measles outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico are now up to more than 250 cases. Two unvaccinated people — a child and an adult — have died from measles-related causes.
Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that’s airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes and a rash.
It is preventable through vaccines and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000.
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The best way to avoid measles is to get the MMR vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old.
Childhood vaccination rates have declined nationwide since the pandemic, and more parents are claiming religious or personal conscience waivers to exempt their kids from required shots.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, MMR vaccinations in Philadelphia kindergarteners rose from 92.8% in the 2022-23 school year to 94.5% in 2023-24.
More guidance from the city can be found here.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.