Measles Outbreak Reaches Nebraska

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has confirmed a case of measles in Nebraska, in Sheridan County. It is the first recorded case of the disease in the state since 2017. According to DHHS, “The patient is an appropriately vaccinated child with no out-of-state travel history.”DHHS is providing limited information due to privacy concerns. However, it is possible that individuals present at the following public locations at the indicated date and times may have been exposed to measles:Family Dollar Store in Rushville on May 17 from 9 a.m. until Noon, andGordon Memorial Hospital Clinic in Gordon on May 21 from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. DHHS is asking people who may have been exposed fill out the risk assessment survey at the following link: https://redcap.link/Measles_Sheridan0525.For those who do not have access to the internet or need help filling out the risk assessment survey, call the Panhandle Public Health District at 308-633-2866. Additionally, contact your health care provider to check you and your family's vaccination status against measles. If you have not had two doses of the measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine, DHHS recommends you talk to your health care provider or local health department right away.This report comes days after the first case was confirmed in Iowa since 2019. More than 1,000 cases have been confirmed in 33 states, with more being reported in Mexico and Canada. Measles is an acute, highly contagious and potentially deadly respiratory viral disease. Symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough, and rash. Although measles is usually considered a childhood disease, it can be contracted at any age. Children under the age of five, adults over the age of 20 years, nonimmune pregnant and immunocompromised people are at greatest risk of developing severe complications from measles. There is no specific treatment for measles.

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