Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
(NOBLESVILLE) - A student at Noblesville Middle School may have contracted the measles as part of a recent outbreak in central Indiana.
School officials said the case has not been confirmed by a doctor, but that the child has exhibited symptoms of the disease and is being kept at home for the time being.
All areas of the school have been thoroughly cleaned to help prevent the spread of the virus, school officials said.
The number of confirmed measles cases in central Indiana has grown to 10 children and adults, health officials said Monday.
The Indiana State Department of Health said all 10 people with the disease reside in Boone and Hamilton counties. Spokeswoman Amy Reel said the number of confirmed cases is expected to grow.
She said each of the 10 cases are linked and one of the newly confirmed cases was a person who visited Super Bowl Village in downtown Indianapolis with a previously confirmed case two days before the game between the New York Giants and New England Patriots.
She said there are no confirmed measles cases from that exposure. More than 200,000 people visited the venue that day.
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus that begins with a fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes seven to 10 days after exposure. The fever increases and a rash starts on the face and upper neck two to four days later, eventually spreading across the body.
Droplets from a sneeze or cough spray into the air and can remain active and contagious for up to two hours.
Health officials said measles is rare in the United States because of high levels of vaccination with the measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccine.
Children are routinely vaccinated for measles at 1 year old and again before entering kindergarten. Those born before 1957 are presumed to be immune to measles.
Measles poses a serious threat to unvaccinated infants, people with diseases affecting their immune systems and pregnant women.
Those experiencing the symptoms of measles are asked to stay home and consult a doctor.
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