The Department of Health reports a case of measles in a Pennington County resident.
The resident developed a measles infection after traveling internationally.
“Measles is a highly contagious viral disease and spreads through the air when an infected individual coughs or sneezes,” said Dr. Joshua Clayton, state epidemiologist. “Individuals who have not been fully immunized with two doses of measles vaccine have an increased risk of infection if they have contact with an infected person.”
DOH officials said the resident visited two facilities where other community members may have been exposed. One is the Black Hills Urgent Care on Mountain View Road on July 9 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The second is the Monument Health Emergency Room in Rapid City on July 12 from 5 p.m. to midnight.
Officials said measles symptoms appear in two stages. Stage one symptoms include runny nose, cough, and a slight fever—along with the possibility for red eyes and sensitivity to light.
The second stage appears three to seven days after exposure and presents with a high fever and a red blotchy rash—usually starting on the face before it spreads to the rest of the body. People may also experience red and white spots on the gums and inside of the cheeks.
The DOH said the best way to prevent measles is to get vaccinated. Learn more about the disease and vaccinations here.