The Shelby County Health Department has declared the county’s recent measles outbreak to be officially over since no new cases have been confirmed in 42 days, which encompasses two full 21-day incubation periods.
On April 5th, the first measles case in the outbreak was recorded. There were seven confirmed cases during the outbreak period, and 36 people were quarantined and monitored. The health department has reported that 934 people were exposed to the disease during the outbreak — 686 people in non-healthcare environments and 248 in healthcare facilities. A total of 67 public locations were affected.
“I am pleased with the coordinated effort of the Shelby County Health Department and the many community partners, including the Tennessee Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who spent countless hours over the last two months protecting everyone and helping to keep citizens safe,” said Shelby County Mark H. Luttrell, Jr.
Measles is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable viral infection that starts with a high fever, runny nose, cough and red eyes, followed a few days later by a rash that starts on the head and gradually moves down the body. While typically mild, the measles can result in complications, including pneumonia or inflammation of the brain, that require hospitalization.
“One of the roles of public health is to prevent the spread of diseases such as measles,” said Alisa Haushalter, DNP, RN, director of the Shelby County Health Department. “We continue to urge residents in Shelby County to know their immune status and ensure their entire family, especially young children, have received all of the recommended vaccines.”
During the outbreak, the health department provided 225 vaccines at public health clinics and 160 at pointof-dispensing events. To find out more about vaccines against measles, contact the Shelby County Health Department at (901) 222-9000.
