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N.H. Health Officials Warn Of Possible Measles Exposure in Portsmouth

Flikr Creative Commons / drocpsu
An international traveler infected with the measles virus recently visited the city of Portsmouth, N.H.

State officials are investigating reports of an international traveler in New Hampshire infected with the measles virus.

The only known public exposure site in New Hampshire was the Flatbread Company restaurant in Portsmouth on April 20 between the hours of approximately 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.

There are no cases identified related to this situation, and New Hampshire is well-protected from widespread measles transmission due to a high vaccination rate.

The state Department of Health and Human Services is encouraging people who were at the exposure site during those hours to monitor themselves for symptoms.

Measles is caused by a virus that is passed from person to person through the air when someone with the disease sneezes, coughs, or talks. Symptoms of measles include high fever, cough, runny nose, and conjunctivitis several days prior to development of a body rash.

State Epidemiologist Benjamin Chan says now would be a good time for people to check their own vaccination status if they were born in or after 1957.

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