LDH confirms New Orleans measles case (2024)

FAQs

LDH confirms New Orleans measles case? ›

The Louisiana Department of Health has confirmed one case of measles in New Orleans. The patient is an international visitor who was not fully vaccinated, and was exposed to measles outside of the U.S.

Detection of measles RNA in a clinical specimen can provide laboratory confirmation of infection. Real-time RT-PCR has the greatest diagnostic sensitivity when specimens are collected at first contact with a suspected case. Real-time RT-PCR uses nasopharyngeal, throat swabs, and urine specimens.

All three measles cases in Louisiana in 2024 have been reported in the New Orleans area. In February, two people who had recently traveled out of state were diagnosed with the highly infectious disease. Neither was vaccinated.

Rapid diagnosis of measles by antigen detection can be achieved using smears made from nasopharyngeal or respiratory secretions stained with a monoclonal antibody(s) directed against virus structural proteins.

For a confirmed diagnosis a swab is used to take a sample of the saliva or a blood sample is taken. The serum and saliva are measured for measles-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM). This is positive in cases of measles for up to 6 weeks after onset of the disease. Urine samples may also yield the virus and the IgM.

How is measles diagnosed? A doctor will suspect measles based on the common symptoms including fever and rash, and especially if the patient has recently traveled internationally or was exposed to someone with a fever and a rash. Laboratory blood and tissue tests (from a throat or nose swab) can confirm the diagnosis.

Detection of measles IgM in a single serum sample is an indicator of acute measles infection. The gold standard for diagnostic serological assays is ≥ 4-fold rise in titer for measles-specific IgG between acute and convalescent serum.

The most severe complications of measles are blindness, pneumonia, and encephalitis, leading to case fatality rates ranging from 0.1% in industrial countries to 15% in developing countries [7, 8]. Severe complications of measles are more common in children under 5 years and adults older than 20 years old [8].

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms of measles usually begin 10–14 days after exposure to the virus. A prominent rash is the most visible symptom. Early symptoms usually last 4–7 days.

Measles causes a red, blotchy rash that usually appears first on the face and behind the ears, then spreads downward to the chest and back and finally to the feet.

Can I eat eggs if I have measles? ›

Include immunity boosters in your measles diet

One should eat oranges, lemons, strawberries, and papaya which are loaded with vitamin C and help to boost immunity and manage the rash. Don't forget to include vitamin A in the diet by opting for eggs, broccoli, spinach, and even dark green leafy vegetables.

Measles is spread when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. You're infectious from when you first have symptoms (around 4 days before the rash appears) until 4 days after you get the rash. There are things you can do to reduce the risk of spreading or catching measles.

It's highly contagious and spreads through the air when a person with measles talks, coughs or sneezes. There isn't a medical treatment for measles — you have to let the virus run its course.

An MMR antibody screening is a single blood test that is used to help diagnose both measles and mumps or to see if you are immune. MMR stands for measles, mumps, and rubella. Rubella, also known as German measles, is caused by another type of virus.

About 3 out of 100 people who get two doses of MMR vaccine will get measles if exposed to the virus. However, they are more likely to have a milder illness, and are also less likely to spread the disease to other people. Two doses of MMR vaccine are 88% (range 32% to 95%) effective at preventing mumps.

The presence of measles specific antibodies is usually taken as evidence of typical measles in the past; in the present study it was regarded as evidence of infection with measles virus, but not necessarily of the common disease accompanied by a typical rash.

Assessing Suspect Measles Cases

Consider measles in patients of any age who have a fever ≥101 F, plus at least one of the 3 “Cs” (cough, coryza or conjunctivitis) and a descending rash that starts on the face. The rash typically follows the onset of illness within 4 days. regardless of measles vaccination history.

3–5 days after symptoms begin: measles rash

It usually begins as flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline. They then spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet. Small raised bumps may also appear on top of the flat red spots.

The rash can be confused with many other illnesses, too. If necessary, a blood test can confirm whether the rash is measles. The measles virus can also be confirmed with a test that generally uses a throat swab or urine sample.