Philadelphia Orders Antibody Treatment for NICU Infants After Sept. 11 Measles Exposure
Updated
Updated · WHYY · Sep 18
Philadelphia Orders Antibody Treatment for NICU Infants After Sept. 11 Measles Exposure
3 articles · Updated · WHYY · Sep 18
Summary
Philadelphia health officials said all infants in Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s NICU are being given preventive antibody treatment after a possible measles exposure on Sept. 11.
The exposure was tied to CHOP’s main building at 3401 Civic Center Blvd., with possible contact from 9:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. in NICU West, the NICU family lounge and the atrium, plus 12:05 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. in the main cafeteria.
Measles symptoms usually appear 7 to 14 days after exposure and can begin with fever, runny nose, cough and watery eyes before progressing to severe complications including pneumonia, brain infection and death.
City Health Commissioner Palak Raval-Nelson urged eligible people to stay up to date on vaccination, saying broad immunization is needed to protect vulnerable patients who cannot be vaccinated.