CASPER — A Natrona County child with the measles who visited Banner Wyoming Medical Center is the first case of measles in the state since 2010.
The Wyoming Department of Health’s State Health Officer Dr. Alexia Harrist said the department was not going to release the sex or age of the child “to protect the family’s privacy.”
The source of the child’s measles exposure also was not identified.
The child was in the Emergency Room waiting area between 11 a.m. and1 p.m. on June 24 and from 12:55 p.m. to 2:55 p.m. on June 25.
Harrist said about 30 people have been identified as being in the ER at the same times, who face potential exposure from the two visits.
The hospital and health department are working together to notify those potentially exposed.
“We are asking individuals who were potentially exposed to self-monitor for measles symptoms for 21 days past the exposure date and consider avoiding crowded public places or high-risk settings such as daycare centers,” Harrist said.
She said the hospital has also initiated its protocol for staff exposure and there is frequent communication between the Department of Health and infectious disease specialists in Wyoming about having protocols for communicable diseases like measles, including “what follow up with employees looks like.”
“The hospital is certainly following their protocols on that,” she said.
Hospital Staff Monitoring
To prevent the measles, the nation’s current standard is a two-dose regimen of the MMR vaccine.
The two-dose regimen for the vaccine was initiated in the 1980s, when research showed one dose was not enough to stop outbreaks, Harrist said. She said recommendations call children to receive the vaccine at 1 year old and then again between 4 - 6 years old.
For hospital employees who have had the two doses of MMR vaccine in their youth, Harrist said the only thing to do is just monitor for symptoms. Sending the staff home until it is clear they will not get the disease is not recommended if the employee has both doses.
“But the hospital will be following their individual protocols on that,” she said.
Banner Wyoming Medical Center did not respond to a request by deadline.
Parents are encouraged to get their children vaccinated before entry into kindergarten, Harrist said.
The latest statistics available on the Department of Health website from 2023 show that 96% of Natrona County kindergartners had received the shot compared to 94% of kindergartners overall in the state.
The two-dose vaccine is 97% effective in preventing the disease, she said.
Harrist said she did not know if the hospital ER has a negative airflow room specifically designed for patients with air-borne contagious diseases.
Those At Higher Risk
Monitoring for symptoms is especially critical for people who have not been vaccinated with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Infants less than 1 year old who are too young to receive the MMR vaccine, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals are at higher risk for infection and severe disease.
The Wyoming Department of Health WDH recommends these individuals contact their healthcare providers regarding their potential measles exposure.
Harrist said it is important for anyone who may be exposed to the virus and has symptoms or thinks they may have the measles to call ahead to their health provider before going to their health care provider, urgent care, or hospital.
The health department reports that people exposed to measles typically develop symptoms seven to 21 days after exposure.
Symptoms include:
• Fever
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red eyes
• A characteristic rash that usually starts several days later on the face and spreads
down the body.
People who have received the MMR vaccine or were born before 1957 are generally considered immune. Booster doses are not necessary for persons who are fully vaccinated against measles.
Should additional cases occur, the MMR vaccine, given within 72 hours after exposure, can prevent infection. Unvaccinated individuals or those unsure of their immunity should talk to their healthcare provider about receiving the MMR vaccine, Harrist said.
“Measles is one of the most contagious diseases we know, but it is preventable,” she said. “The MMR vaccine is safe and highly effective, providing long-lasting protection.”
Wyoming’s case follows a nationwide outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control reports that as of July 1, 1,267 confirmed measles cases have been reported in 38 jurisdictions, including in the neighboring states of Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Utah.
Dale Killingbeck can be reached at dale@cowboystatedaily.com.
