A suspected second death has been reported in the current measles outbreak in the United States. The deceased was an unvaccinated adult in New Mexico. The first death was an unvaccinated child in Texas. Cases of the illness are now confirmed in 10 states. While there are no known cases of measles in Oklahoma to date, David Chansolme, M.D., the medical director of infection prevention at INTEGRIS Health, says families should stay informed and remain vigilant about the measles risk in Oklahoma.
Symptoms to look out for include a rash, fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes, especially among those who have recently returned from an area experiencing an active measles outbreak. Those most vulnerable to the illness are unvaccinated individuals, infants and young children under 12 months or not yet fully vaccinated, immunocompromised patients and health care workers. Talk to your doctor if you are unsure of your vaccination status.
To stay informed about the measles risk in Oklahoma and how to protect your family, visit oklahoma.gov/health.
