Department of Health Alerts Public of Second Case of Suspected Measles, Possible Exposure in Several Locations in York County Including Two Central York School District Open House Events
The state Department of Health has notified Central York School District of a second case of suspected measles in York County and alerted us that individuals who were in two of our schools for Open House events between September 9 and 12 may have been exposed to measles.
The possible exposure times for Central York School District include:
- Central York Middle School, 1950 N. Hills Rd., York, PA, on Sept. 11 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:10 p.m.
- Central York High School, 601 Mundis Mill Rd., York, PA, on Sept. 12 from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
If you have been properly immunized against measles, your risk of getting the disease is minimal, according to the Department of Health. To learn more about measles, visit the PA Department of Health Website and the Centers for Disease Control Website
If you believe you might have been exposed and experience symptoms, please contact your health-care provider or call the toll-free hotline at 1-877-PA-HEALTH.
WellSpan Health has also provided a valuable resources of Frequently Asked Questions on this issue, which can be viewed here: WellSpan FAQ
Please note, because measles is transmitted by air, health officials have informed that the infection risk vanishes within two hours after an individual with measles leaves a building, therefore, there is no risk of infection at any of the schools listed beyond the exposure time indicated by the Department of Health.
FULL PRESS RELEASE FROM PA DOH PROVIDED BELOW
Department of Health Alerts Public of Second Case of Suspected Measles, Possible Exposure in Several Locations in York County
Harrisburg, PA –Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today alerted residents who visited several locations throughout York County between September 9 and September 12 that they may have been exposed to measles.
The locations and times when residents may have been exposed include:
- Crunch Fitness- York, 905 Loucks Rd., York, PA on Sept. 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:10 a.m.
- Sheetz, 215 Arsenal Rd., York, PA, on Sept. 11 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
- Central York Middle School, 1950 N. Hills Rd., York, PA, on Sept. 11 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:10 p.m.
- Central York High School, 601 Mundis Mill Rd., York, PA, on Sept. 12 from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- WellSpan Stony Brook Health Center, 4222 E. Market St., Lincoln Hwy. York, PA on
- Sept. 9 from 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.;
- Sept. 10 from 7:15 a.m. to 6:45 p.m.;
- Sept. 11 from 7:15 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.;
- Sept 12 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The Stony Brook facility houses WellSpan Family Medicine – Stony Brook, WellSpan OB/GYN – Stony Brook, and WellSpan Lab Services – Stony Brook.
“We have a second individual with a suspected case of measles, which can be highly contagious,” Secretary Levine said. “WellSpan Health is in the process of notifying patients, staff and visitors who were in WellSpan Stony Brook Health Center during the identified times; however, if you have been properly immunized against measles, your risk of getting the disease is minimal. If you believe you might have been exposed and experience symptoms, please contact your health-care provider or call our toll-free hotline at 1-877-PA-HEALTH.”
To date, 14 cases of measles have been confirmed in Pennsylvania. More than 1,200 cases have been reported in the United States in 2019. This is the greatest number of cases reported in the U.S. since 1992.
Measles is a highly contagious but vaccine-preventable disease that spreads through coughing, sneezing or other contact with the mucus or saliva of an infected person. Symptoms typically appear one to three weeks after exposure and include: rash; high fever; cough; and red, watery eyes.
According to Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) those most at-risk are:
- Infants less than one year of age who are too young to have received the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine;
- Individuals who refused vaccination; and
- Individuals from parts of the world where there is low vaccination coverage or circulating measles.
Additionally, even if you were vaccinated, you may still be at risk if you were vaccinated with an inactivated vaccine, which was used from 1963 through 1967, and have not been revaccinated; or you were born after 1957 and have only received one dose of MMR vaccine.
For more information on measles visit the Department of Health website at www.health.pa.govor follow us on Facebook and Twitter.