Testing Underway After Possible Measles Case In Baltimore
BALTIMORE, Md. (WJZ)--Testing is underway to determine if a child in Baltimore could have the measles. Right now, she is being quarantined at her home in case she may be contagious.
Jess Kartalija has the details.
It's been a decade since Baltimore has seen a case of the measles.
Now, tests are underway to determine if a 12-month old girl could have the virus.
The child arrived at Good Samaritan Hospital last week with a rash, high fever, and runny nose. Test results showed signs of the virus--which could be a reaction from the vaccine, which she received earlier this month.
"All of this could be a reaction to the vaccine, however, due to the outbreak going around the country, and how contagious it is out of an abundance of caution we are making sure we treat this as it could be measles so that we protect our citizens," said Leana Wen, Baltimore City Commissioner of Health.
Local hospitals, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, as well as the Centers for Disease Control, are working to determine the specifics of the case.
A sample is currently being tested at the CDC.
"It is a live vaccine, so if you're going to have any sort of reaction, it's going to be localized to the infection site," said Peter Andrews US Director of Occupational Health at Sinai Hospital.
The CDC recommends all children get two doses of the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine.
"If you don't get the vaccination, in the long run you will feel really bad if your child gets sick from something that's pretty easily preventable," said Andrews.
Due to parents receiving misinformation in choosing not to vaccinate their kids, the incidents of measles has been rising. Baltimore actually has high vaccination rates, with nearly 99 percent of public school children being vaccinated.
