Comanche County Memorial Hospital Reports Potential Measles Case

Comanche County Memorial Hospital in Lawton, Oklahoma, has reported a potential measles case at its hospital. The hospital announced that a patient exhibiting signs of measles was treated at the hospital's Emergency Department on Wednesday, April 16.

The hospital announced on Thursday, April 17 that the hospital "is taking all necessary precautions after a patient exhibiting symptoms consistent with measles." When the patient visited the hospital's Emergency Department on Wednesday, the patient was immediately isolated and provided with supportive care. As of Thursday afternoon, the case is not positively confirmed as measles.

Dr. Scott Michener, CCMH Chief Medical Officer, stated that the hospital is keeping track if Oklahoma's statewide measles outbreak.

"We are closely monitoring the recent measles outbreak and are taking all appropriate steps to ensure the health and safety of our patients, staff, and visitors," Michener said in the hospital's update.

Oklahoma currently has 12 measles cases across the state.

As of April 15, the Oklahoma State Department of Health has a total of 12 measles cases across Oklahoma. The state department has nine confirmed measles cases and three probable measles cases. All 12 of Oklahoma's cases are either unvaccinated or unknown. So far Oklahoma has recorded zero deaths from measles during this recent outbreak.

Larger cases of measles have been reported in Texas and New Mexico.

Earlier this year, larger cases of measles were reported in west Texas and eastern New Mexico. As of April 15, 561 cases have been confirmed in Texas and 63 cases in New Mexico since late January. Texas has recorded two deaths from measles and New Mexico has recorded one death.

Best way to prevent measles is through vaccination.

Earlier this year, Oklahoma health officials were concerned about Oklahoma's potential for measles outbreak due to the state's low vaccination rates. Oklahoma has child vaccination rate of 88 percent, whereas Texas has a child vaccination rate of 94 percent.

The measles vaccine is recommended for children, with the first dose at ages 12 to 15 months and the second at ages four to six. The measles vaccine helps boost children's immunity to measles can can prevent children who contract measles from having severe cases that could result in death.

Some adults are also encouraged to get a measles booster. Adults born between 1957 and before 1968 are encouraged to get a booster because during that time, the vaccine was made from an inactivated virus. And those born between 1968 and 1989 are encouraged to get a booster vaccine because during this time, only one round of the vaccine was administered.

In the update from CCMH, Michener encouraged all residents to make sure their vaccines are up to date.

"We strongly encourage all community members to ensure they are up to date on their measles vaccinations," Dr. Michener added. "The MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine is highly effective—with a two-dose series offering approximately 97% protection. Widespread vaccination remains the best defense against an outbreak."