Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Thursday, February 23, 2012
(INDIANAPOLIS) - The worst of the measles outbreak that has sickened 15 people in central Indiana may be over, health officials said Wednesday.
The 15th case, which was confirmed Tuesday, was found in a child whose parents had kept him or her in isolation since the child was exposed, limiting the chance the risk of spreading the highly contagious disease further.
"We're hoping that this particular episode is drawing to a close," said State Health Commissioner Dr. Gregory Larkin. "That said, we're always monitoring doctors' offices, and if they see anything of concern, we'll be immediately involved."
The source of the outbreak in Boone and Hamilton counties has been traced to a Hamilton County father and son who were infected by a third family member who contracted the virus overseas.
Members of the family then went to work, school, shopping and visited Super Bowl Village, causing the illness to spread from there.
Two confirmed cases in two Noblesville schools prompted a quick response to contain the measles, including vaccination clinics and keeping children at home who weren't immunized.
"We're getting close to the window where we can feel assured that any child that wasn't protected when there was an infected case at their school has not contracted the disease," Larkin said.
The state has established a hotline to answer questions about measles. It is available at 877-826-0011 from 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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