Confirmed Case Of Measles In Boston

BOSTON — After a Northeastern student who lives in Boston was diagnosed with measles Wednesday, health officials are warning people about potential exposure in 10 public places the infected person visited — from Logan Airport to Tatte's Bakery on Huntington Street to CVS on Massachusetts Avenue. The Boston Public Health Commission said Thursday anyone who happened to be at those places could have been exposed

This is Boston’s second confirmed case of measles in a city resident in the past three months. A Boston resident was diagnosed with the disease on October 6, 2019. Prior to that, there had been no cases of measles among Boston residents since 2013.

People who were at these locations could become ill until January 24-27. Anyone who was exposed and is unclear of their immunization status or begins to develop symptoms of measles should call their healthcare provider. The commission is urging anyone who does not know their measles immunization status to get vaccinated.

“Measles is a dangerous disease and can cause serious complications, but it is preventable. The best way for everyone to protect themselves is to get vaccinated. If you don’t know your immunity status, call your healthcare provider,” said BPHC Medical Director Dr. Jennifer Lo in a statement.

The locations where exposure may have happened:

• Friday, January 3rd - 8:50pm to 11:30pm Logan International Airport Terminal E
• Saturday, January 4th - 1:00pm to 3:30pm Blick Art Materials, 333 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
• Saturday, January 4th - 2:00pm to 5:00pm Tatte Bakery & Café at the Marino Center, 369 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
• Saturday, January 4th - 12:45pm to 3:00pm Wollaston Market in the Marino Center, 369 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
• Saturday, January 4th - 9:00pm to 11:15pm Wollaston Market in the Marino Center, 369 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
• Sunday, January 5th - 11:55am to 2:30pm CVS, 231 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115

• Monday, January 6th - 7:00am to 9:30am Rebecca’s Café at Churchill Hall, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
• Monday, January 6th - 3:30pm to 7:30pm AT&T Store, 699 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116
• Monday, January 6th - 5:30pm to 8:00pm UNIQLO, Newbury 341 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02115
• Monday, January 6th - 6:00pm to 8:30pm Brandy Melville, 351 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02115
• Monday, January 6th - 6:30pm to 9:00pm Amelia’s Taqueria, 1076 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116

Officials said because the student went to a number of spots on campus, including dorms, dining halls and classrooms between Jan. 3-6, students at Northeastern should call a doctor if they experience any symptoms.

Symptoms of measles include white spots inside the mouth, inflamed eyes and sore throat. Measles is a highly contagious virus that is spread through the air through coughing and sneezing. One of the tricky things about the virus is that it may remain in the environment for up to two hours after the infectious person has left the area, health officials said.

• What you should know about the measles, according to the CDC.

Adults born in the U.S. before 1957 are considered immune to measles from past exposures.

The following people are at the highest risk of getting the measles:

• Infants under a year old who are too young to have received the vaccine
• People born after 1957 who received only one dose of the MMR vaccine
• People who have refused vaccination
• People from parts of the world with low vaccination rates
• People vaccinated from 1963 to 1967 with an inactivated vaccine and who haven't been re-vaccinated

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend children get their first measles vaccine between when they turn a year old.
An individual in New Hampshire also contracted measles last month. The CDC said there have been more than 314 measles cases across the country so far this year. That amount is among the highest since 2000.

RELATED:

• Measles Case One Of More Than 300 Across US (March 2019)
• Possible Measles Exposure At South Station And Two Boston Buses (March 2019)

The commission is working with Northeastern University and is also coordinating with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to contact individuals at high risk for exposure.

For additional information, contact the commission at 617-534-5611, Northeastern University at 617-373-2772 or Massachusetts Department of Health at 617-983-6800.