Local health officials urge residents to get vaccinated after measles case in Adams County

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA) - After the Indiana Department of Health confirmed a positive measles case in Adams County, local health leaders are urging people to check their immunization status.

BACKGROUND: Health officials report positive measles case in Adams County

Measles is a highly contagious disease. The virus can live in the air for up to two hours, and nine out of 10 people who come in close contact with an infected person are expected to become infected.

“We’ve always said diseases are just a plane ride away, and when you combine that with a population that isn’t getting as many vaccines as we used to, it opens the door for us to be susceptible to diseases again,” said Erika Pitcher, Director of Clinical Services and Case Management at the Allen County Department of Health.

Pitcher says anyone who hasn’t built natural immunity by having the disease or was vaccinated in the past is susceptible to it, which is why it’s so important to know your immunization status.

Leaders at Super Shot say they are here to make this process easier for people.

“If you have concerns, just give us a call, and we can work through that with you,” said Connie Heflin, executive director at Super Shot.

Heflin says because of the news, Super Shot is giving priority to people looking to get the MMR shot, even if appointments are not available.

“Now is not the time to delay; we certainly don’t want to delay anybody’s protection. We’ll get you in, we’ll get you seen, and we want to get it taken care of,” Heflin said.

If you believe you’ve been exposed to someone who has the measles, or you believe you have it yourself, Pitcher says it’s crucial to isolate.

“Please stay home and either call your doctor or call the health department, and we will talk to you about the next steps,” Pitcher said.

To contact Super Shot, click here. For the Allen County Department of Health, click here.