Health officials say two measles cases are confined

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Lee County Health officials remind residents of symptoms, vaccination clinics

BY CHUCK VANDENBERG
PCC EDITOR

LEE COUNTY - With a second confirmed case of measles in Iowa, Lee County Health Department officials are reminding local residents of the symptoms of the rare disease.

According to a release from the Iowa Department of Public Health, the two cases in Iowa are both a result of unvaccinated residents from northeast Iowa.

The second case is a resident who is a household contact of the first confirmed measles case. The initial case is believed to have come from the resident after traveling to Israel, where measles transmission is occurring.

Health officials also said the initial person is under a public health voluntary confinement in order to prevent further exposures. Because the second measles case has been isolated at home during the incubation period, there is no current threat to the general public.

Emily Biddenstadt, LCHD Community Health Special Projects Manager, said measles symptoms are specific.

"We want to remind the public to be aware of the symptoms of measles – cough, runny nose, red/watery eyes, nasal congestion, high fever, a rash of flat red areas all over the body with raised bumps, and Koplik spots, which are small spots with white or bluish-white centers on the inside of the cheek," she said

The LCHD offers two immunization clinics every month, including the second Thursday of the month in Keokuk from noon-4:30pm at Trinity Methodist Church, and the fourth Thursday of the month in Fort Madison from noon-5:30pm at the LCHD office in the old John Bennett #3 Building.

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