PITTSBURGH — The Allegheny County Health Department is notifying the public of a potential measles exposure.
ACHD says two individuals at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh on Aug. 27 have tested positive for measles.
The individuals are not residents of Allegheny County, and the health department says they left the county after their visit to the hospital.
RELATED COVERAGE >>> Allegheny County says there’s ‘no data’ that a resident has measles. What would happen if anyone did
UPMC is calling patients and staff who have been identified as being exposed with further instructions.
The health department says potential exposures may have occurred at the following locations and times on Aug. 27:
- Giraffe/Hippo Waiting Room on the 3rd floor: 1-4 pm
- Giraffe Clinic on the 3rd floor: 2-5 pm
- Cafeteria on the 3rd floor: 3-5 pm
- Main Lobby on the 1st floor: 1-5 pm
- Grape/Purple Elevators: 1-5 pm
This is the second potential measles exposure notification from Children’s Hospital in the last month. ACHD previously informed the public of an individual at the hospital on Aug. 12 and 18 who tested positive for the virus.
Measles is a highly contagious virus that can spread through breaths, coughs or sneezes. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose and irritated eyes, followed by a rash that starts on the head and spreads downward. Symptoms typically appear seven to 21 days after exposure.
Measles can cause severe health complications, including pneumonia and brain swelling, with nearly 20% of infected individuals requiring hospitalization.
The Allegheny County Health Department says individuals who are not vaccinated are most at risk for infection.
Anyone experiencing symptoms should contact a healthcare facility ahead of arriving so they can take the proper precautions to ensure measles exposures are isolated and contained.
Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW