Penn State Health reports measles exposure in Lancaster and Hershey

LANCASTER COUNTY, PA. —

Penn State Health confirmed a positive case of measles last week, with potential exposure at Lancaster Medical Center and Golisano Children’s Hospital in Hershey.

A Penn State Health spokesperson said a person tested positive for measles late last week. The person first went to the emergency room at Lancaster Medical Center, then was taken to Golisano Children’s Hospital in Hershey.

This person may have exposed others due to their presence in the following locations:

• Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center
  • Emergency department, between 10:50 p.m. on October 18 and 4:04 a.m. on October 19.
• Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital
  • Pediatric perianesthesia unit (2^sd post-operative recovery room on the floor), from 9:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. on October 19.
  • Main hall and 6^th Floor hall, between 3:45 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on October 21.

Penn State Health urges anyone who may have been exposed to check their vaccination status and monitor for symptoms, which may include fever, cough, runny nose, red, watery eyes and a rash that starts on the head or face and spreads downward.

Measles can live in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person leaves the area. It is spread when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. Symptoms may appear between 7 and 21 days after exposure.

Penn State Health says it works closely with the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Anyone who thinks they may have been exposed and has symptoms should contact their doctor immediately or call the department’s toll-free hotline at 877-PA-HEALTH (877-724-3258).

Penn State Health has confirmed that this incident is separate and unrelated to the possible measles exposure reported last week at Hershey Medical Center.