Montgomery County reports 3 measles cases tied to contact with an out-of-state traveler

The Montgomery County Public Health Department confirmed three cases of measles in residents on Tuesday after they came into contact with someone who had traveled from out of state.

None of the three people, who were family members, had been vaccinated, health officials said in a Facebook post.

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Measles is a highly contagious virus, which can have serious health complications that can be life-threatening, especially in children younger than 5 years old. Measles spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

"You can get measles just by being in a room where a person with measles has been. This can happen even up to two hours after that person has left," officials said in the post.

Measles symptoms can appear seven to 14 days after exposure to the virus, and include high fever; cough; runny nose; red, watery eyes; and a rash.

Anyone who may have been exposed to someone with measles should isolate from others and call a health care provider before arriving so medical staff can prepare to avoid exposing others.

The best protection against measles is the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The MMR vaccine provides long-lasting protection against all measles strains, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC recommends that children receive one dose of MMR at 12 to 15 months of age and another at 4 to 6 years of age. Two doses of MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles.

Children too young to be vaccinated or individuals who have only had one dose of vaccine are more likely to get infected and more likely to have severe complications if they do get measles versus a person who has been fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.

While measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, it remains common in many parts of the world. It is typically brought into the United States by infected travelers. 

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