By David Templeton
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
PITTSBURGH — The Allegheny County Health Department and state Department of Health have provided a comprehensive list of places and times that exposure to measles might have occurred last month throughout southwestern Pennsylvania.
The source of the measles was a child from India who arrived March 7 in the United States. Since then, five other people have contracted measles, which is highly contagious, with possibly more awaiting confirmation. Health officials continue to track down unvaccinated or susceptible people who might have been exposed to people with measles and face a risk of infection.
Exposures may have occurred at the following places and times:
* The Emergency Department of Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC any time on March 10; between 8 p.m. March 21 and 11 a.m. March 22; between 6 p.m. March 25 and 5 a.m. March 26; between 6 p.m. March 27 and 3 a.m. March 28; and between 2:30 p.m. March 28 and 4 a.m. March 29.
* People also could have been exposed to measles anytime on March 23 at Children’s Hospital’s third floor Ear Nose and Throat and Specialty Clinics.
* Alle-Kiski Medical Center’s Emergency Department, main lobby and ground floor public areas in Natrona Heights, between 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. March 28.
* During an EMS-1 Conference at Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Somerset and Fayette counties, exposure in the Snowflake Room and the main dining room might have occurred between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. March 26.
* On the following Allegheny County Port Authority buses: Route 28X (Airport Flyer) between 10 a.m. and noon March 24 and between 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. March 28; 33X (West Busway all stops) between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. March 27; and 71A between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. March 24 and between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. March 27.
People who aren’t immune to measles, including those not fully vaccinated, should contact a primary health-care provider immediately to let them know you may have been exposed, especially if you have had a fever and rash any time since March 15.
Those who had possible exposure to someone with measles and have become ill with measles symptoms from one to two weeks after possible exposure also should contact a health-care provider.
For more information about measles and the mumps-measles-rubella vaccination, visit www.health.state.pa.us or www.achd.net.