Traveler with measles made stop in Clinton on April 12
Clinton residents were warned last week that a person infected with measles had made his or her way into town, stopping at the Speedway at 2148 Charles Seivers Blvd. on April 12.
The Tennessee Department of Health issued a warning for people who stopped at that location between 5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m., stating that they may have been exposed.
The person also stopped at a Mapco in Chattanooga on April 11.
On Monday, TDH confirmed two additional cases of measles, and they are associated with the first case.
“We expected to have more measles cases linked to the first one, and these new cases occurred in people we had identified and were monitoring as contacts of the first patient,” said Tennessee Immunization Program Medical Director Michelle Fiscus in a press release. “The good news is there are no additional contacts of these new cases that have not already been identified.”
According to the TDH, measles symptoms may include fever, runny nose, body aches, watery eyes and white spots in the mouth. A red, spotty rash begins on the face several days after initial symptoms and then spreads to the rest of the body.
Symptoms can take up to 21 days after exposure to show up.
Measles can be fatal in one to two out of every 1,000 cases, according to the TDH.
TDH communications director Shelley Walker said she could not confirm whether the new cases were in Anderson County due to privacy issues, but they are in East Tennessee.
Make sure that you are up to date on your measles vaccine. It’s a very contagious virus and can live on surfaces for up to two hours, according to TDH.
Measles cases have been confirmed in 22 states, according to the CDC. The virus was declared eliminated in 2000. As of Monday, there are 704 cases. The outbreak, according to the CDC, is linked to travelers who brought measles back from other countries.
The majority of people who got the virus were unvaccinated.
If you or your child are not vaccinated, visit the Anderson County Health Department at 710 N. Main St, Clinton, or call them at 865-425-8800.