The Oklahoma State Department of Health reported two confirmed cases of measles in the state.
This comes a week after mass confusion over a potential case in Bartlesville that was later deemed not to be legitimate.
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The OSDH didn’t provide any details about where the cases are or who was affected, citing patient privacy.
They gave us this statement, however and said it’s not related to the Bartlesville incident:
The two situations are not related. The Bartlesville incident was not a confirmed or probable case of measles. While an individual in the area was tested at a local hospital, the test indicated immunity, not a current measles infection. The Bartlesville Public School system preemptively notified families and the public of an unconfirmed measles case on March 4. We aren’t releasing any geographic details, as these cases don’t pose a public health risk and to protect patient privacy. The OSDH investigates all reports of suspected measles thoroughly and immediately. During our recent investigation, OSDH was able to discern that there was no risk to the public with either of these cases. This means that neither of the individuals was in a public setting during their incubation or contagious period, preventing the risk of community spread. If a risk of spread to the public is identified, the OSDH will notify the public and share any information necessary to protect Oklahomans’ health.
State officials did say the individuals took proper precautions after realizing they’d be exposed and self-isolating. OSDH believes their actions stopped the risk of transmission.
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“These cases highlight the importance of being aware of measles activity as people travel or host visitors,” Kendra Dougherty, Director of Infectious Disease Prevention and Response at OSDH said. “When people know they have exposure risk and do not have immunity to measles, they can exclude themselves from public settings for the recommended duration to eliminate the risk of transmission in their community.”…