Md. Health Officials Investigating Measles Exposure In Catonsville, Easton & Baltimore

BALTIMORE (WJZ)— There's a confirmed case of the measles in Maryland and the health department is warning others could have been exposed.  Kai Jackson explains the person who has it attended a local graduation.

The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is issuing this warning so that anyone potentially at risk can seek medical help.

The state health department says among those at the graduation ceremony at Catonsville High was a person with measles.

"We just want to get the word out because there's a measles case in Maryland that we've identified," said David Blythe, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Measles is a highly contagious rash caused by a virus.  It's spread from person to person by airborne droplets and direct contact with infected respiratory secretions.  The story gets complicated because Catonsville High's graduation was at the UMBC Retriever Athletic Center, potentially exposing people there.

"I know that kids [are] supposed to get shots," said Royce Jeffrey.

"I know it's highly contagious and if a person gets it, it can spread real fast and real easily," said John Griffin.

"Anyone who has signs or symptoms of measles should check in with their health care provider," Blythe said.

Health officials say people who were at the following locations at the listed times may have been exposed:

• Tuesday, May 31, 5- 8 p.m. at Giant grocery store, 6223 Baltimore National Pike in Catonsville
• Tuesday, May 31, 6-8 p.m. at Montgomery Plaza Liquors, 6225 Baltimore National Pike in
• Wednesday, June 1, 6- 11 p.m. at Catonsville High School Graduation, UMBC RAC Center
• Thursday, June 2, 6:30-11 p.m. at Applebee's Restaurant, 8999 Ocean Gateway Drive in Easton
• Friday, June 3, beginning 7 p.m. at Oriole Park at Camden Yards
• Friday, June 3, 11 p.m. - Saturday, June 4 1:30 a.m. at MTA Light Rail

Measles symptoms usually appear in two stages. In the first stage, most people have a fever of greater than 101 degrees, runny nose, watery red eyes and a cough. The second stage begins around the third to seventh day when a rash begins to appear on the face and spreads over the entire body.

Officials say the risk of a major measles outbreak in Maryland is low because of the state's high vaccination rate.

For more information about measles, go here.