COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — A person who was treated for measles at Penrose Hospital may have exposed others to the virus, an El Paso County Public Health representative said.
It’s believed that the patient contracted the virus at Disneyland last month, KRDO reported. In other states, nine other measles cases were linked to people who visited Disneyland or Disney’s California Adventure Park in mid-December.
Exposure may have occurred at Penrose Hospital in Colorado Springs on Jan. 3, 2015, KRDO reported. Many visitors and patients who were in the emergency room and CAT scan suites on that date between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m., may have been exposed.
“While most people are protected against measles, unvaccinated patients and visitors who were at Penrose Hospital may be at risk for developing measles. These people should contact their health care provider if they experience a rash and fever,” said Dr. Bill Letson, El Paso County Public Health Medical Director.
According to the Colorado Center for Disease Control, the symptoms of measles generally appear about 7 to 14 days after a person is infected.
Symptoms and signs include:
- high fever
- cough
- runny nose
- red, watery eyes
- rash on skin
- tiny white spots in mouth
“We urge everyone to make sure they and their family members are up-to-date on measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine and all other age-appropriate immunizations,” Dr. Bill Letson said. “Two doses of measles vaccine is more than 99 percent effective in preventing measles.”