Measles Exposure Reported at Nemours Children's Hospital Emergency Department in Delaware

A measles exposure has been reported at Nemours Children's Hospital emergency department. According to the Delaware Division of Public Health, the exposure occurred on Feb. 18, and contact tracing is ongoing.

DPH will notify persons who were identified as exposed to confirm whether or not they have been vaccinated against measles before, provide educational resources and to recommend quarantine and exclusion orders when necessary. Public Health is encouraging people who were exposed to check their vaccination status and watch for symptoms for 21 days until March 11. Pregnant women, regardless of vaccination status, who may have been exposed during this time period should go to an emergency room for assessment and treatment.

Any individual who was exposed to measles and is not fully vaccinated against measles should get a dose of Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine within 72 hours of exposure to someone with measles (by February 21, 2026). Vaccines may be available at facilities like pharmacies and primary care providers. People interested in getting the vaccines should contact their preferred facility to assure they have the MMR vaccine and are available to administer it.

If a person is showing symptoms, contact the Office of Infectious Disease Epidemiology during regular business hours (302) 744-4990 or the state's 24-hour reporting line at (888) 295-5156 outside of normal business hours to coordinate testing, receive guidance and limit any further exposures. Those who are ill should seek immediate health care by contacting their primary care provider. If symptoms are severe, people should seek immediate care at the nearest emergency department. Before going to any health care facility, the individual should notify providers and medical transport that they or their child were exposed to measles. Health care providers who identify any potential measles case should contact the Office of Infectious Disease Epidemiology immediately.

If a Delaware resident is unsure of their vaccination status, they can visit the DelVAX Public Portal and view their personal profile. Individuals may also contact their primary health care provider for additional details or if they are unable to obtain their records on DelVAX.

The MMR vaccine is proven safe and effective at preventing measles having been administered for over five decades. Testing shows the vaccine to be 97% effective at preventing measles for those who have received two doses of the MMR vaccine and are not severely immunocompromised. Children should get their first dose of vaccine between 12 and 15 months of age and their second dose between 4 and 6 years of age. Infants 6 to 11 months who are traveling internationally or who are in an area experiencing a measles outbreak or exposure should receive one early dose of MMR vaccine.

Measles is a highly contagious, acute viral illness that begins with early symptoms of fever, cough, coryza (runny nose) and conjunctivitis (pink eye), lasting two to four days prior to rash onset. The rash typically occurs three to five days after symptoms begin and usually appears on the face and spreads down the body. Measles can cause severe health complications, including pneumonia, brain inflammation and death.

The virus is transmitted by direct contact with infectious droplets or by airborne spread when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. The measles virus can remain infectious in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area. Infected people are contagious from four days before the rash starts through four days after rash development. The incubation period for measles from exposure to fever is usually about 10 days (range, seven to 12 days), and from exposure to rash onset is usually about 14 days (range, seven to 21 days).