Penn State Health is warning individuals who visited the emergency department at Lancaster Medical Center Oct. 18 and 19 of a possible measles exposure.
A person who tested positive for measles may have exposed others between 10:50 p.m. Oct. 18 and 4:04 a.m. on Oct. 19 at the East Hempfield Township hospital.
Also, the individual may have exposed others at Penn State Golisano Children’s Hospital in Dauphin County on Oct 19 and 21. On Oct. 19, the person was in the pediatric perianesthesia unit, second-floor post-operative recovery area, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., and on Oct. 21 they were in the main lobby and sixth floor lobby from 3:45 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Penn State Health “followed (its) established contact tracing protocols to reach as many of the affected individuals as possible,” said Scott Gilbert, Penn State Health spokesperson. The health systemis advising people who were in the aforementioned areas during these times to check their vaccination status. If they are unvaccinated for measles or immunocompromised, they should contact their healthcare provider for guidance.
Initial symptoms of the illness include cough, runny nose, red, watery eyes, and fever. Infected individuals will later develop a rash, which starts on the face and travels downward. Symptoms can appear up to 21 days following exposure.
Measles, which is extremely contagious, is transmitted through the air when a person coughs or sneezes. The virus can linger for up to two hours even after an infected person leaves a room.
Vaccination is the safest and most successful way to prevent measles. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective. Since unvaccinated individuals are most at risk of contracting measles, healthcare providers recommend people reach out to their physician if they are unsure about their vaccination status, Gilbert said.
Due to the contagious nature of the virus, the health system is asking people “who think they have been exposed to measles to please call before coming to an emergency department, urgent care, primary care office or other Penn State Health location – even if they don’t have symptoms,” Gilbert said.
When contacted by a reporter about the possible measles exposure, Pennsylvania Department of Health officials directed questions to Penn State Health.
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
Error! There was an error processing your request.