Current:Home > ScamsWest Virginia confirms first measles case since 2009 -Nova Finance Academy
West Virginia confirms first measles case since 2009
View
Date:2025-04-19 01:47:23
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A West Virginia hospital has confirmed the first known case of measles in the state since 2009, health officials said Monday.
The Monongalia County Health Department said WVU Medicine alerted officials Sunday that an adult patient living in the county tested positive for the viral infection. Health officials have not pinpointed exactly where and how the patient was exposed but said the person had recently traveled abroad.
The patient — who was partially vaccinated against measles, having received one of two doses — had developed symptoms, sought medical treatment through the WVU Medicine system and was instructed to stay home while awaiting lab results.
One of the world’s most contagious diseases, measles can lead to potentially serious complications.
Dr. Brian H. Huggins, the county health department’s incoming health officer, said the department is working with the hospital to identify people who came into contact with the patient.
“We really want to emphasize that this is an illness that people should take very seriously,” Huggins said.
Nationwide, measles cases this year already are nearly double the total for all of 2023, raising health experts’ concerns about the preventable, once-common childhood virus. Health officials have confirmed measles cases in at least 17 other states so far this year, including cases in New York City, Philadelphia and Chicago.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention documented 113 cases as of April 5. There have been seven outbreaks and most U.S. cases — 73% — are linked to those flare-ups.
Still, the count is lower than some recent years: 2014 saw 667 cases and 2019 had 1,274.
Most U.S. cases are brought into the country by people who traveled where measles is far more common.
Huggins said West Virginia has not seen a case since 2009 largely due to its strict school vaccination laws. West Virginia is one of a handful of states that allows only medical exemptions to vaccine requirements.
Last month, Republican Gov. Jim Justice broke with West Virginia’s GOP-majority Legislature to veto a bill that would have allowed some students who don’t attend traditional public schools or don’t participate in sports and other group extracurricular activities to be exempt from vaccinations typically required for children.
veryGood! (67959)
Related
- Nevada attorney general revives 2020 fake electors case
- Can New York’s mayor speak Mandarin? No, but with AI he’s making robocalls in different languages
- Russian President Putin insists Ukraine’s new US-supplied weapon won’t change the war’s outcome
- GOP’s Jim Jordan will try again to become House speaker, but his detractors are considering options
- The 401(k) millionaires club keeps growing. We'll tell you how to join.
- As Israel battles Hamas, Biden begins diplomatic visit with Netanyahu in Tel Aviv
- US announces sanctions against a group of 10 Hamas members and financial network over Israel attack
- NIL hearing shows desire to pass bill to help NCAA. How it gets there is uncertain
- Jamie Foxx gets stitches after a glass is thrown at him during dinner in Beverly Hills
- Russian President Putin and Chinese leader Xi meet in Beijing and call for close policy coordination
Ranking
- Biden administration makes final diplomatic push for stability across a turbulent Mideast
- Supreme Court orders makers of gun parts to comply with federal ghost gun rules
- 'Jurassic Park' actor Sam Neill shares update on cancer battle: 'I'm not frightened of dying'
- Cambodian court sentences jailed opposition politician to 3 more years in prison
- Questlove charts 50 years of SNL musical hits (and misses)
- Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov arrives in North Korea, Russian state media say
- Suspect in Natalee Holloway case expected to enter plea in extortion charge
- Man punched Sikh teen in turban on New York City bus in suspected hate crime, authorities say
Recommendation
Sam Taylor
Inbox cluttered with spam? Here's how to (safely) unsubscribe from emails
At least 500 killed in strike on Gaza hospital: Gaza Health Ministry
50 years later, a look back at the best primetime lineup in the history of television
What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
Protests erupt across Middle East and Africa following Gaza hospital explosion
It's a pink Halloween. Here are some of the most popular costumes of 2023
Biden raises more than potential GOP challengers in 3rd quarter, while Trump leads GOP field in fundraising