Orange County health officials warn of measles risk to people attending youth baseball games
The Orange County (NC) Health Department (OCHD) is advising the public of the risk of exposure to measles if they attended two youth baseball games last weekend, according to a OCHD news release Thursday.
An attendee of the Hillsborough Youth Athletic Association (HYAA) games on last Friday and Saturday contracted the viral disease on Sunday May 5. Health officials warn that he/she may have been contagious while at the games on those two days.
One game was on Friday, May 3, at 6:00 p.m. at the Cedar Grove Park (Field #2) in Cedar Grove, NC. The other game was at the Exchange Club Park in Hillsborough, NC on Saturday, May 4, at 4:30 p.m.
Health officials say this person had been fully vaccinated and had no reason not to be in public. While fully vaccinated persons are considered to be more than 99% protected, persons that are fully vaccinated can develop the disease in rare cases.
If you attended the games on May 3 or 4, please be alert for symptoms that could occur anytime between May 10 and May 25. If you develop symptoms, stay home and CALL your medical provider to be tested.
Persons born before 1957 are likely immune due to having had the disease as a child. Most others are protected due to having received a measles-containing vaccine (MMR). One dose of MMR has been required for childcare, school and university entry for many years. Two doses of MMR are recommended and have been required for childcare, school and university entry in North Carolina for anyone entering after July 1, 1994.
Measles or rubeola, is an acute highly communicable viral disease that is characterized by Koplik spots in the cheek or tongue very early in the disease. A couple of days later a red blotchy rash appears first on the face, and then spreads, lasting 4-7 days. Other symptoms include fever, cough and red watery eyes. The patient may be contagious from four days prior to the rash appearance to four days after rash appearance.
The disease is more severe in infants and adults. Complications from measles which is reported in up to 20% of people infected include; seizures, pneumonia, deafness and encephalitis.
For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page
Looking for a job in health care? Check here to see what’s available