State public health officials this weekend confirmed a second case of measles this year in Massachusetts, diagnosed Friday in a child from Greater Boston who visited a handful of South Shore locations this month.
The case comes "in the context of a large national outbreak of measles and a very large international outbreak," according to the Department of Public Health, which advised anyone who does not know their measles immunization status to get at least one dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.
"Lack of vaccination, combined with domestic and international travel, has resulted in the spread of measles nationally and internationally," Dr. Monica Bharel, the state's public health commissioner, said in a statement. "Getting vaccinated is the best way for people to protect themselves from this disease."
Exposure may have occurred at the Weymouth Club on Saturday, May 18; at Jack 'n' Jill Childcare at Marina Bay in Quincy on May 21 and May 23; the Star Market on Granite Avenue in Quincy or the Quincy YMCA on May 22, and the Crown Colony Medical Center in Quincy on May 24.
People who may have been at those locations at the same time as the child are advised to contact their health care provider to confirm their immunization status. State and local health officials are "working to contact individuals at high risk for exposure," the department said.
Early measles symptoms occur 10 days to two weeks after exposure and may resemble a cold. A rash occurs on the two to four days after the initial symptoms develop, usually appearing first on the head.
