The Virginia Department of Health has declared a measles outbreak in Buckingham County with 12 confirmed cases, according to the agency’s statement released Tuesday.
“No patients reported recent travel. Without travel, the timing of these cases suggests local transmission,” the release said. “There are likely more measles cases than have been reported.”
The first confirmed case in Buckingham County, made public May 8, was a child aged 5-12 with no known history of recent travel or exposure to measles, meaning the child was infected locally.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that infects nine out of 10 unvaccinated people who come into contact with it. One in five infected people requires hospitalization. It spreads through respiratory droplets from an infected person when they cough, sneeze or speak. The virus can live on surfaces for up to two hours.
It is also a preventable disease with two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine being 97% effective against measles.
With 12 cases, Buckingham County is experiencing an outbreak.
To classify a cluster of measles cases as an outbreak, at least three cases must be epidemiologically linked, said Emily Rich, a vaccine-preventable disease epidemiologist at the Virginia Department of Health, who explained this in a statement last year when there was a threat of an outbreak.
Virginia health officials encourage everyone connected to or visiting Buckingham County to check their MMR vaccination status. In addition to routine vaccination recommendations, the VDH also issued additional vaccination recommendations.
Take action
Check your MMR vaccine status and learn about measles symptoms
The Virginia Department of Health has declared a measles outbreak in Buckingham county and is encouraging everyone to check their measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination status.
To check your MMR vaccination status, use the VDH Record Request Portal or contact your healthcare provider. Learn more about measles symptoms and read frequently asked questions here.
All residents and visitors of Buckingham County should take additional steps to assess their immunity and talk to their healthcare provider about outbreak vaccine recommendations.
If you believe you were exposed, you can report it here.
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