A sign warns of the dangers of measles in the reception area of an Arizona pediatrician's office in 2015. Measles was discovered recently in Tulsa County. Associated Press file
The Tulsa Health Department is investigating a case of measles in Tulsa County.
Measles, a highly contagious respiratory disease, was identified in a person who had returned to Oklahoma after international travel.
The disease spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. It is possible to catch measles by being in a room where a person with measles has been, up to two hours after that person has left.
A person with measles is highly contagious for three to four days before the rash starts. Anyone under the age of 60 who has been exposed to the virus and has not had the MMR shot is at high risk for getting the measles.
Based on the information collected during the investigation, THD health officials want to alert anyone who visited the following locations during the specified times about potential exposure to the measles virus:
• Southern Hills Country Club, 2636 E. 61st St., on Friday, March 30 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Church of Saint Mary, 1347 E. 49th Place, during the following dates and times: Friday, March 30 from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.; Sunday, April 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Prairie Fire Pie, 1303 E. 15th St., on Friday, March 30 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
• Tulsa International Airport, 7777 E. Apache St., on Sunday, April 1 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The specific areas include the United and American Airlines desks in the lower level ticketing area.
• Whole Foods Market, 1401 E. 41st St., on Sunday, April 1 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
• William Medical Building, 6585 S. Yale Ave., on Monday, April 2 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Boston Deli Grill & Market, 6231 E. 61st St., on Monday, April 2 from noon to 2 p.m.
• Laureate Institute for Brain Research, 6655 S. Yale Ave., on Monday, April 2 from 3 to 7:30 p.m.
• Walgreens, 6040 S. Yale Ave., on Monday, April 2 from 5 to 8 p.m.
• Warren Clinic Tower, 6600 S. Yale Ave., on Tuesday, April 3 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The specific areas include elevators, waiting room, X-ray and laboratory collection services.
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Saint Francis Health System, which has under its umbrella the Warren Clinic and William Medical Building, said in a release that its "top priority is the health and safety of our patients, employees and visitors."
"We are working closely with the Tulsa Health Department regarding identifying patients who may have potentially been exposed to the measles," Lauren Landwerlin, executive director of corporate communications for the health system wrote in the release. "The vaccination status of employees who may have been directly exposed has already been verified and there is no suspected risk."
The Church of Saint Mary was holding its capacity-crowd Easter morning service at the time, meaning potentially as many as 800 parishioners could have been exposed to the affected individual, according to the church's business administrator Kathy Desruisseau.
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Mike Malcom, communication director for the church, said leadership has posted the news at the top of the church website and sent messages to families at the parish school. During the time of the affected individual's visits, however, the school was closed, he said. The person most likely was going to confession on Good Friday afternoon, Desruisseau said.
Malcom said the church will continue to update parishioners as the Tulsa Health Department provides updates on the case.
The health department is collaborating with officials of those organizations to identify those who may have visited the locations during the specified time periods to inform them of their exposure and provide recommendations.
Individuals are protected if they are immunized with two doses of a measles-containing vaccine after their first birthday, or if they were born during or before 1957, or if they have previously had the measles. Anyone who is concerned about a possible exposure should contact the Tulsa Health Department’s measles information hotline at 918-595-4500.
THD is offering a measles immunization clinic to provide free MMR immunizations at the James O. Goodwin Health Center, 5051 S. 129th East Ave., Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. and Friday, April 6 from 8 to 5 p.m.
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People who are susceptible to measles usually develop symptoms about 10 days after exposure with a range of 7-21 days. Symptoms of measles begin with a mild to moderate fever, runny nose, red eyes, and cough. A few days later, a rash appears starting on the face spreading to the rest of the body accompanied by a fever that can reach up to 105 degrees.
Symptoms can range from severe to milder, depending on the individual. Measles can lead to pneumonia and other complications, especially in young children and adults over 20. The disease can also cause serious problems in pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems.
People with measles can spread the virus up to four days before the onset of the rash and until four days after the rash starts.
Measles can be prevented with the measles vaccine (usually given in combination with rubella and mumps, called MMR vaccine). The vaccine is recommended for all children at 12 to 15 months of age and again at four to six years of age. If a person has not received a second dose of the vaccine between four to six years of age, the booster dose may be given at any age thereafter. The measles vaccine is very effective. One dose of measles vaccine is about 93% effective at preventing measles if exposed to the virus. Two doses are about 97 percent effective.
