Vt. health officials monitoring measles case

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Health officials are monitoring Vermont’s one confirmed case of measles.

They say the infected person is currently isolated and getting care.

The Vermont Department of Health says the patient is part of an international group program that was exposed to a traveler with measles after a flight into Atlanta.

Health officials say with a 94% vaccination rate in Vermont, there is a very low risk to the public.

“The general public is really not at risk. Like I said, we have a fairly high vaccination rate here in Vermont and this person was not out mingling in the public,” said Kelly Dougherty, the deputy commissioner of the Vermont Department of Health.

Health officials say if you were inside the Hampton Inn in Colchester on April 17 before 3:45 p.m. you should monitor for symptoms and confirm you’re vaccinated for measles. Contact the health department for more guidance if you were there and haven’t been vaccinated against it.

Symptoms of measles include high fever, cough, runny rose, red eyes, white spots in your mouth and a rash that starts on the hairline and face.

There’s no treatment for measles. It’s spread through coughing and sneezing, and it can stay in the air for hours after a person leaves. It can spread for several days before a person sees the telltale rash.