Three new cases of measles have been confirmed in the Atlanta metro area, according to the Coastal Health District. Despite there being no reported cases of measles within the Liberty and Long county area, caution is still advised.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease. It is especially dangerous to infants who can’t be immunized until they are at least a year old, as well as young children who have only received one dose of the measles vaccines.

Measles can be spread person to person simply by an infected person so much as breathing, coughing, or sneezing. This causes the respiratory droplets to travel through the air, where the measles virus can live in the air and on surfaces for up to two to three hours. Those who have not been vaccinated are especially at risk for being exposed to the virus.

According to the CHD, the MMR vaccine has been deemed safe and effective in its job. Two doses are recommended, being 97 percent effective, while one does is 93 percent effective.

The health district encourages people to get two doses of the vaccine. Those who are not vaccinated need to be on the lookout for measles symptoms:

·         High fever

·         Coughing, runny nose and red eyes

·         Tiny white spots on the inner lining of the cheek, also called Koplik’s spots

·         Rash of small, red spots that start at a person’s head and spreads to the rest of the body (spots may join together as they spread)

 Anyone who suspects they are sick with the measles should contact their health care provider immediately. Do not go to the doctor’s office, the hospital, or any public health clinic without first calling them to let them know that you have possibly contacted the measles. Those who suspect measles should notify their public health clinic immediately.

For more information about the measles should go to https://www.cdc.gov/measles/index.html.