Investigators have said that the story of the person infected with measles is “not the most concrete.”
ST. LOUIS — Efforts to trace possible measles exposure at a popular tourist site in St. Louis are becoming complicated due to confusion and communication issues.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services first informed the public on Sunday that a measles-infected individual may have exposed others at the St. Louis Aquarium last week.
According to the St. Louis Department of Health, this confirmed case involved an unvaccinated resident from Illinois who visited the aquarium at Union Station between 1 and 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 30.
“Anyone who was there during this time frame could potentially develop measles if they are not fully vaccinated,” stated Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, the City of St. Louis Health Director.
A school group was present at the aquarium during this exposure period, but the health department did not specify which school it was.
The infected person also dined at a nearby restaurant, but the health department mentioned they were still working on identifying it since the family paid in cash and couldn’t recall the establishment’s name.
The St. Louis health department shared that the case was initially reported to the Illinois Department of Public Health, which then notified Missouri’s DHSS. The lack of clarity in the infected individual’s account is making it challenging to establish a precise timeline regarding their movements and who may have been exposed.
The Illinois State Health Department is collaborating with both the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and the communicable diseases team of the St. Louis Department of Health.
“However, we depend greatly on individuals being willing to share information and provide details… We are hoping to gather more information from the individual,” Hlatshwayo Davis added.
“Anyone experiencing a high fever, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes, or a rash starting on the face and then spreading should immediately isolate and contact their healthcare provider,” Hlatshwayo Davis advised. “Keep in mind that a rash may not emerge for several days post-exposure, so don’t wait for that to occur if you have other symptoms.”
The health department urged anyone who may have been exposed, particularly individuals who are immunocompromised, pregnant, or parents of young children who can’t be vaccinated, to reach out to their healthcare provider or the Department of Health as soon as possible. It’s also highly recommended to notify a provider before visiting to minimize potential exposure to others.
People can reach the St. Louis Department of Health at 314-612-5100 or health@stlouis-mo.gov.
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus that leads to febrile rash illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Even though measles has been effectively eliminated in the U.S. for many years, the virus can still be introduced by unvaccinated travelers and can spread in communities that are not well immunized. The Missouri DHSS noted that one person with measles can easily infect 9 out of 10 unvaccinated people nearby.
Symptoms typically appear seven to 14 days after infection, starting with a high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. After two to three days, small white spots might show up inside the mouth, and about three to five days in, a rash generally begins on the face at the hairline before spreading to the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet.
Young children, adults over 20, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems are at increased risk for severe complications from measles, which can include pneumonia or brain swelling, leading to serious health issues or even death, as stated by the CDC.
This year, Missouri’s first confirmed measles case involved a child in Taney County.
