AMHERST KETSCHKE JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON HOW THIS MAY HAVE SPREAD. YEAH. MONICA, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE SAYS THIS CASE LIKELY CAME FROM AN INTERNATIONAL TRAVELER. WHO PASSED THROUGH NEW ENGLAND LAST MONTH. THAT SAME TRAVELER IS ALSO BELIEVED TO HAVE INFECTED ANOTHER PATIENT IN VERMONT. STATE OFFICIALS SAY THAT THE PATIENT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE WAS UNVACCINATED. THE STATE’S EPIDEMIOLOGIST SAYS THAT THOSE WHO ARE VACCINATED AGAINST MEASLES OR PREVIOUSLY BEEN INFECTED BY IT DO HAVE A VERY HIGH LEVEL OF PROTECTION AGAINST THE VIRUS. BUT HE SAYS THOSE WITHOUT THAT PROTECTION SHOULD KEEP A CLOSE EYE OUT FOR SYMPTOMS. THERE ARE PREVENTATIVE TREATMENTS THAT CAN BE GIVEN TO A PERSON AFTER EXPOSURE. HEALTH EXPERTS SAY THAT MEASLES IS AN AIRBORNE VIRUS, AND PARTICLES FROM A SICK PERSON CAN REMAIN IN THE AIR FOR UP TO TWO HOURS. WHEN PEOPLE ARE NOT IMMUNE. WHEN THEY ARE NOT PROTECTED FOR EXAMPLE, BY VACCINATION. UM, MEASLES HAS THE ABILITY TO JUST SPREAD VERY RAPIDLY AND VERY EASILY BETWEEN PEOPLE AND HERE IS A LIST OF LOCATIONS. HEALTH EXPERTS SAY THAT THIS PATIENT MAY HAVE EXPOSED OTHERS ALL AROUND THE UPPER VALLEY. THE HANOVER LEBANON AREA. YOU CAN SEE IT INCLUDES PLACES LIKE A GROCERY STORE, AN URGENT CARE CENTER, AND DARTMOUTH-HITCHCOCK MEDICAL CENTER’S EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT. YOU CAN FIND THIS LIST IN EXACTLY WHAT TIMES THERE WAS AN EXPOSURE RISK ON OUR WEBSITE. WMUR DOT COM, AND ON OUR MOBILE
Measles case linked to international traveler confirmed in New Hampshire resident
Health officials say others could have been exposed at places resident visited
Updated: 6:12 PM EDT Jul 9, 2024
A case of measles has been confirmed in a New Hampshire resident, and health officials said it was linked to an international traveler who visited the state in June.The Department of Health and Human Services said the resident who tested positive for measles visited several locations in the state while infectious, potentially exposing others to the virus.DHHS said the international traveler tested positive for measles after returning home from a visit to Hanover in late June. A confirmed case in Vermont has also been linked to the traveler, DHHS said. Health officials said the New Hampshire resident had not been vaccinated for measles. Officials said other unvaccinated people, people with weakened immune systems and infants too young to be vaccinated who came into contact with the resident could be at risk of being infected.Officials released locations and times where exposure to the resident might have occurred: July 1, 1:30-3:30 p.m.: Peppermint Patty’s, 25 Road Round the Lake, Grantham July 1, 5:30-11:30 p.m.: Sierra Trading Post, 200 S Main Street, West Lebanon July 3, 9-11:30 a.m.: Dartmouth Co-op, 21 S Main Street, Hanover July 5, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Dartmouth Co-op, 21 S Main Street, Hanover July 5, 11:45 a.m.-6 p.m.: ClearChoiceMD Urgent Care waiting room, 410 Miracle Mile, Lebanon July 6, 8-10:30 a.m.: ClearChoiceMD Urgent Care waiting room, 410 Miracle Mile, Lebanon July 6, 9:30 a.m.-July 7, 1 a.m.: Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center Emergency Department, 1 Medical Center Drive, LebanonAnyone at those locations at those times who is unvaccinated, who never had measles before or who is unsure of their immunity status was asked to call the Division of Public Health Services at 603-271-4496 as soon as possible. >> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<Depending on the date of potential exposure, individuals who are not protected and susceptible to measles might benefit from preventative treatment, including vaccination or measles antibody injection, to lower their risk of developing measles, officials said. People who are severely immunocompromised, even if previously vaccinated against measles, might benefit from preventative antibody treatment because vaccination might not be as effective for them. Officials said those people should contact their health care provider to see if treatment is recommended. "Measles is a highly contagious but preventable disease," said Dr. Benjamin Chan, the state epidemiologist. "The two-dose measles vaccine provides lifelong protection in most people, and it is the best protection against measles and complications of infection. Anybody who is not vaccinated is strongly encouraged to talk with their health care provider about completing the vaccine series."The last case of measles in New Hampshire was in 2019, health officials said.Measles is passed from person to person through the air when someone with the infection sneezes, coughs or talks. The virus can remain infectious in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves the area. Measles can cause serious health complications, especially in children younger than 5 years old. Symptoms of measles include high fever, cough, runny nose and watery eyes several days before developing a body rash. To prevent the possibility of spreading the virus, health officials said anyone who develops such symptoms should call their health care provider before going directly to a health care facility.
MANCHESTER, N.H. — A case of measles has been confirmed in a New Hampshire resident, and health officials said it was linked to an international traveler who visited the state in June.
The Department of Health and Human Services said the resident who tested positive for measles visited several locations in the state while infectious, potentially exposing others to the virus.
DHHS said the international traveler tested positive for measles after returning home from a visit to Hanover in late June. A confirmed case in Vermont has also been linked to the traveler, DHHS said.
Health officials said the New Hampshire resident had not been vaccinated for measles. Officials said other unvaccinated people, people with weakened immune systems and infants too young to be vaccinated who came into contact with the resident could be at risk of being infected.
Officials released locations and times where exposure to the resident might have occurred:
- July 1, 1:30-3:30 p.m.: Peppermint Patty’s, 25 Road Round the Lake, Grantham
- July 1, 5:30-11:30 p.m.: Sierra Trading Post, 200 S Main Street, West Lebanon
- July 3, 9-11:30 a.m.: Dartmouth Co-op, 21 S Main Street, Hanover
- July 5, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Dartmouth Co-op, 21 S Main Street, Hanover
- July 5, 11:45 a.m.-6 p.m.: ClearChoiceMD Urgent Care waiting room, 410 Miracle Mile, Lebanon
- July 6, 8-10:30 a.m.: ClearChoiceMD Urgent Care waiting room, 410 Miracle Mile, Lebanon
- July 6, 9:30 a.m.-July 7, 1 a.m.: Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center Emergency Department, 1 Medical Center Drive, Lebanon
Anyone at those locations at those times who is unvaccinated, who never had measles before or who is unsure of their immunity status was asked to call the Division of Public Health Services at 603-271-4496 as soon as possible.
>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<
Depending on the date of potential exposure, individuals who are not protected and susceptible to measles might benefit from preventative treatment, including vaccination or measles antibody injection, to lower their risk of developing measles, officials said.
People who are severely immunocompromised, even if previously vaccinated against measles, might benefit from preventative antibody treatment because vaccination might not be as effective for them. Officials said those people should contact their health care provider to see if treatment is recommended.
"Measles is a highly contagious but preventable disease," said Dr. Benjamin Chan, the state epidemiologist. "The two-dose measles vaccine provides lifelong protection in most people, and it is the best protection against measles and complications of infection. Anybody who is not vaccinated is strongly encouraged to talk with their health care provider about completing the vaccine series."
The last case of measles in New Hampshire was in 2019, health officials said.
Measles is passed from person to person through the air when someone with the infection sneezes, coughs or talks. The virus can remain infectious in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves the area. Measles can cause serious health complications, especially in children younger than 5 years old.
Symptoms of measles include high fever, cough, runny nose and watery eyes several days before developing a body rash. To prevent the possibility of spreading the virus, health officials said anyone who develops such symptoms should call their health care provider before going directly to a health care facility.
