LEONARDTOWN, MD (March 5, 2019) – Additional testing and evaluation of the suspected measles case currently under investigation by the St. Mary’s County Health Department has found that the individual in question does not have measles.
The Maryland Department of Health initially reported the case as positive to the St. Mary’s County Health Department. Due to the highly contagious nature of the measles illness, local communications were issued promptly in order to reduce the potential exposure risk to other community members. Subsequent testing by the Maryland State Laboratory determined that the individual did not have measles. Final test results by the state laboratory, available as of 5:30 p.m. today were negative for measles.
The local response hotline will be deactivated as of 6:00 p.m. Additional questions may be directed to the St. Mary’s County Health Department during regular business hours at (301) 475-4330.
Given current outbreaks of measles in other states, the St. Mary’s County Health Department advises the community to learn more about measles, the vaccine to prevent it, and the importance of vaccinating according to CDC’s recommended schedule. For more information, visit http://www.smchd.org/measles/ or https://www.cdc.gov/measles/index.html.
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