Warning as 20,000 people exposed to contagious bug at large event
THOUSANDS may have been exposed to the super contagious virus measles, after an unvaccinated person attended a large religious event.
The event was a multi-week religious gathering held by Asbury University in Kentucky, US.
Between 10,000 and 20,000 people attended the religious “revival”.
One of these was an Asbury County resident.
It turns out the worshipper, who was at the gathering on February 17 and 18, was not vaccinated against the deadly virus.
Six days later, the university announced that the attendee had measles.
It urged people who were at the event at the same time and were not fully vaccinated against measles to quarantine for 21 days.
“Large numbers of people that attended the gathering from across Kentucky and from other states and countries may have been exposed,” the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned following the university’s statement.
An estimated 20,000 people were at the revival on the days the measles patient was there, it stated.
The CDC added that it’s possible virus could spread in connection with the event, “particularly among unvaccinated or under-vaccinated individuals.”
Global implications
In November last year, the World Health Organization and the CDC warned that “falling vaccination rates and reduced surveillance during the Covid-19 pandemic have created an “imminent threat” of measles spreading in every region of the world”.
Measles vaccination rates have fallen globally, they said.
This is the case for the UK as well, according to recent UKHSA figures.
MMR jabs, which also stop mumps and rubella, give near-perfect immunity but 95 per cent of children have to be vaccinated to stop outbreaks.
Family doctors offer the first dose when a baby turns one and the second dose at three, before tots start preschool.
But UKHSA figures from September last year showed that below 90 per cent of two-year-olds have had the first dose and just 85.7 per cent of five-year-olds have had the second, a decrease from 2020-2021.
Instances of measles in the UK have been rising in recent years and health chiefs have warned the super-contagious virus could break out again.
Although measles can affect people of any age, and we have seen outbreaks among university students in recent years, it is most common in young children.
The infectious condition often clears up in under two weeks, but it can sometimes lead to life-threatening complications.
Parents were urged to get their kids vaccinated against the super-contagious virus earlier this year, after official figures revealed vaccination levels were at a 10-year low.
What are the symptoms of measles?
Measles symptoms become noticeable approximately 10 days after the illness is contracted.
The NHS outlines the initial symptoms of measles…
- cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, sneezing, and a cough
- sore, red eyes that may be sensitive to light
- a high temperature (fever), which may reach around 40C (104F)
- small greyish-white spots on the inside of the cheeks
A few days after these flu-like symptoms manifest, a rash often begins to appear.
Distinctive red-brown blotches spring up on the body, typically beginning at the upper neck and spreading downwards.
Severe complications can occur, including miscarriage in pregnant women, brain swelling and the risk of death from pneumonia.
What to do if you think you have measles
If you suspect you or one of your family members is infected, notify your GP to arrange an appointment.
Make sure to mention measles on the phone, so your doctor’s surgery can make necessary arrangements for you.
To reduce the risk of the virus spreading, avoid as much human contact as possible.
In the majority of cases, measles clears within a couple of weeks.
To help alleviate your symptoms during this time, it may be advisable to take some painkillers, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol.
Drinking plenty of water and getting some rest will also help the body to recover from the virus.
In severe instances, patients may be admitted to hospital for treatment.