HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Department of Health issued a warning Thursday about an out-of-state person infected with measles who visited four counties earlier this month.
According to the department, the person visited Adams, Clearfield, Lancaster and York counties and was contagious between Aug. 4-12. The person has since left the commonwealth, the department stated.
Anyone who may have been exposed is urged to immediately contact their health care provider or call 877-PA-HEALTH.
The department notified the following establishments, with the date and time of the contagious person’s visits indicated, of the potential exposure:
Sapp Bros. Travel Center, 15196 Clearfield Shawville Highway, Clearfield, 1-3 p.m. Aug. 5;Farmhouse Restaurant at the Barn Resort, 75 Cunningham Road, Gettysburg, 5-8:30 p.m. Aug. 7; Hickory Falls Entertainment Center, 110 Hickory Lane, Hanover, 7-10 p.m. Aug. 7;Midway Mennonite Reception Center; 210 E Lexington Road, Lititz, all day Aug. 8-9; Garber Mennonite Fellowship, 6082 Old Hanover Road, Spring Grove, 8:30 a.m. until two hours after the conclusion of services on Aug. 10.
“The best protection against measles is vaccination,” said Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen. “With two measles, mumps and rubella vaccines, residents are at low risk of getting and spreading measles. People who visited the locations identified should contact their health care provider if they develop signs of sickness; this will help protect others in their communities from this disease.”
The department said the following of measles: It’s highly contagious illness spread by an infected person through breathing, coughing and sneezing. The virus remains infectious in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours after the infected person leaves the area.
Symptoms begin with fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis), followed by a rash that starts on the head and spreads downward. Without proper protection or supportive care, measles can be deadly. Symptoms can start 7 to 21 days after a person was exposed.
More information on measles is available in within the Department of Health section of www.pa.gov.