Health Officials Identify Source of Measles

The Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Allegheny County Health Department are reporting that the source of the recent measles outbreak was a traveler from India who arrived in the U.S. on March 7, 2009. That brings the number of confirmed measles cases in southwestern Pennsylvania to six, with additional probable cases awaiting confirmation.

State and county investigators and staff from numerous health care facilities have contacted thousands of people who might have been exposed to measles to assess each person’s risk. While most of those exposed have been found to be immune to the disease, some non-immune persons have been asked to stay home until they are cleared.

Initial exposures occurred at Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh. More information can be found at www.health.state.pa.us and www.achd.net.