A child in New Hampshire has been diagnosed with measles, and health officials are warning people who were at several locations in Keene that the child visited.The source of the infection is still under investigation, state health officials announced in a press release Sunday.The child was in the following locations on these dates:• May 12: the nursery (from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and coffee hour (from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) at the United Church of Christ at 23 Central Square in Keene • May 16: the infant/toddler room at the Keene Montessori School on 125 Railroad St. from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. • May 16: the walk-in clinic at Cheshire Medical Center at 149 Emerald St. in Keene from 1 to 5 p.m. Anyone who at those locations at those times needs to make sure they’ve been vaccinated and are immune to the virus, health officials said. Those whose vaccinations are not up to date are asked to call the state Department of Health and Human Services at 603-271-9461.“Measles is a very contagious disease that can be spread through the air, but the vaccine for measles is very safe and effective. Anybody that believes they may have been exposed at one of the listed locations and is not vaccinated or immune should call the NH Division of Public Health Services,” Dr. Benjamin Chan, the state epidemiologist, said in a statement. “Vaccination within 72 hours of exposure can help prevent disease, but people may still benefit from vaccination even after this time period. For those who are not able to receive the vaccine due to medical reasons, there are other available treatments that can help prevent disease,” Chan added.This is the second case of measles identified in the state this year.Measles is caused by a virus that is passed from person-to-person through the air when someone with the disease sneezes, coughs or talks, according to health officials. The virus can remain infectious in the air for up to two hours.
A child in New Hampshire has been diagnosed with measles, and health officials are warning people who were at several locations in Keene that the child visited.
The source of the infection is still under investigation, state health officials announced in a press release Sunday.
The child was in the following locations on these dates:
• May 12: the nursery (from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and coffee hour (from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) at the United Church of Christ at 23 Central Square in Keene
• May 16: the infant/toddler room at the Keene Montessori School on 125 Railroad St. from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• May 16: the walk-in clinic at Cheshire Medical Center at 149 Emerald St. in Keene from 1 to 5 p.m.
Anyone who at those locations at those times needs to make sure they’ve been vaccinated and are immune to the virus, health officials said. Those whose vaccinations are not up to date are asked to call the state Department of Health and Human Services at 603-271-9461.
“Measles is a very contagious disease that can be spread through the air, but the vaccine for measles is very safe and effective. Anybody that believes they may have been exposed at one of the listed locations and is not vaccinated or immune should call the NH Division of Public Health Services,” Dr. Benjamin Chan, the state epidemiologist, said in a statement.
“Vaccination within 72 hours of exposure can help prevent disease, but people may still benefit from vaccination even after this time period. For those who are not able to receive the vaccine due to medical reasons, there are other available treatments that can help prevent disease,” Chan added.
This is the second case of measles identified in the state this year.
Measles is caused by a virus that is passed from person-to-person through the air when someone with the disease sneezes, coughs or talks, according to health officials. The virus can remain infectious in the air for up to two hours.