As of June 20, the measles outbreak in Shelby County has officially ended with no new confirmed cases in the last two consecutive incubation periods, 42 days.
The outbreak was comprised of seven confirmed cases starting in early April.
“I am pleased with the coordinated effort of the Shelby County Health Department and the many community partners, including the Tennessee Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who spent countless hours over the last two months protecting everyone and helping to keep citizens safe,” said Shelby County Mark H. Luttrell, Jr.
Measles is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable viral infection that starts with a high fever, runny nose, cough and red eyes, followed a few days later by a rash that starts on the head and gradually moves down the body. The rash illness lasts about a week. It is usually a relatively mild illness but can result in complications, including pneumonia or inflammation of the brain, that require hospitalization.
“One of the roles of public health is to prevent the spread of diseases such as measles,” said Alisa Haushalter, DNP, RN, director of the Shelby County Health Department. “We continue to urge residents in Shelby County to know their immune status and ensure their entire family, especially young children, have received all of the recommended vaccines.”
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