Delaware Declares 4-Case Measles Outbreak in Kent County as Contact Tracing Expands
Updated
Updated · NBC Philadelphia · Jul 22
Delaware Declares 4-Case Measles Outbreak in Kent County as Contact Tracing Expands
3 articles · Updated · NBC Philadelphia · Jul 22
Summary
Two newly confirmed measles infections pushed Delaware's total to four, prompting the state to declare an outbreak on Wednesday.
CDC rules define an outbreak as three or more linked cases by time and location, and all four Delaware cases so far involve unvaccinated men in Kent County.
Health officials are tracing contacts to identify exposures, check vaccination status, provide guidance and recommend treatment; they said public exposure sites will be released if any are found.
People who are unvaccinated, pregnant, immunocompromised or too young for vaccination face the highest risk of severe complications, while two MMR doses are 97% effective at preventing measles.