Med Center Health physician discusses measles prevention and symptoms

BOWLING GREEN, Ky.- Two counties in Kentucky now have eight confirmed cases of measles, raising concern among health officials.

One of the counties with confirmed cases, Todd County, is just under an hour from Bowling Green. With the reported cases, doctors are especially worried about those with autoimmune diseases, weakened immune systems and infants under 1 year old.

Dr. Suman Shekar, an internal medicine and primary care physician with Med Center Health, says, “It is highly, highly contagious, much more contagious than COVID or the flu.”

She warns that the virus can linger in a room for up to two hours after an infected person leaves.

Common symptoms include a rash, sore throat, red eyes and a high fever. In children, it may also cause a loss of appetite, and the virus can spread extremely quickly.

Shekar urges anyone showing symptoms to quarantine and seek medical attention immediately. If you’re able to get the measles vaccine, it is strongly recommended.