EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — A patient at the Mendoza Clinic at Fort Bliss exhibited symptoms associated with the measles on Friday, April 4, according to a news release sent out William Beaumont Army Medical Center, which oversees all the health clinics on post.
This is not a confirmed case of measles and doctors are still awaiting test results for confirmation, officials said.
If you were a patient or visitor at the clinic from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday, officials recommend you take the following steps:
If you are unvaccinated and 6 months and older, you should get the MMR vaccine within 72 hours.
If fully vaccinated with two doses of the MMR vaccine, you do not need the vaccine, but should monitor yourself for 21 days starting Saturday, April 5.
To get the vaccine, you should go to the closest network pharmacy like an Albertsons or Walgreens or a primary care clinic by Monday, April 7.
“Measles is highly contagious because it can survive in the air for up to two hours. Measles spreads easily through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. A person can contract measles by being in the same room as someone with measles, even up to two hours after that person has left,” William Beaumont said in a news release.
The incubation period is 10 days but can extend for up to 21 days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Symptoms of measles are fever of 101 degrees or greater, cough, runny nose, sneezing, congestion, red eyes, and rash that starts in the face and spreads to the rest of the body.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, call your primary care doctor and ask for a virtual visit or if you feel you are experiencing life-threatening symptoms, go to the nearest emergency room for evaluation, the news release said.
“While many people recover, measles can cause serious complications, especially in young children. This is why prevention is so important. The measles vaccine is highly effective. Two doses provide about 97% protection against the disease, making it one of our best tools for prevention,” Beaumont Army Medical Center said.
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