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YORK, Pa. – WellSpan Health is urging its patients who are experiencing measles symptoms, or who are concerned about a possible exposure, to call a toll-free WellSpan hotline rather than go to a care facility, to reduce the chance of additional exposures in the wake of a confirmed positive case of measles in the region.
A confirmed case of measles was found in an individual who was treated at two WellSpan facilities in York between Aug. 26 and 29. The individual also was at a Fuddrucker’s restaurant in York Aug. 22 and attended a performance at Hershey Theatre Aug. 23. No new cases of measles have been identified from exposure to the original confirmed case at this time.
The WellSpan Measles Exposure Hotline number is 1-855-851-3641. The hotline is currently staffed seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. by registered nurses, who will direct callers to the appropriate location for care.
Individuals who believe they may have been exposed, are experiencing symptoms, and are not WellSpan patients are encouraged to contact the Pa. Department of Health’s toll-free hotline at 1-877-PA-HEALTH. Individuals who have received the measles, mumps and rubella vaccination series should be safe from exposure.
Measles is a highly contagious but vaccine-preventable disease that spreads through coughing, sneezing or other contact with the mucus or saliva of an infected person. Symptoms typically appear one to three weeks after an exposure and include rash, high fever, cough and red, watery eyes.
However, anyone who was inside the impacted locations during the time frames announced by the Pa. Department of Health last week may have been exposed. Because measles is transmitted by air, the infection risk vanishes two hours after a patient leaves a building.
There is no current risk of infection at any of the locations where the confirmed case visited, including the two WellSpan care locations – WellSpan Stony Brook Health Center at 4222 E. Market St., Lincoln Highway in York; and WellSpan York Hospital at 1001 S. George St. in York. All WellSpan care locations continue their normal operations.
WellSpan Health agrees with the CDC recommendations that children and adults receive immunizations from preventable diseases, such as the measles. For the most current information on recommended immunizations for children and adults, visit the CDC website.
For more information about WellSpan Health’s response to this measles exposure, review our list of Frequently Asked Questions.