Traveler with contagious measles traveled in Mississippi

The Mississippi State Department of Health has updated locations of potential exposure to measles that happened Apr. 9-11.

The agency says a man who was contagious with measles traveled to Mississippi Apr. 9-11.

The man was at the food court at Turtle Creek Mall in Hattiesburg from 12 noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Apr. 10.

Earlier, MSDH said the contagious man was at Subway inside the Circle K, 4050 U.S. Highway 11 in Hattiesburg, Apr. 9 between 2 p.m and 4 p.m. He man was at Raising Cane’s, 3509 Hardy Street in Hattiesburg

from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m., Wednesday, Apr. 10.

The health department says anyone who was at any of the locations during the specified dates and times could potentially have been exposed to measles.

MSDH says residents should be up-to-date on vaccinations, monitor for symptoms, and if symptoms do appear, call the doctor or local emergency room before going to make sure the facility can make proper arrangements to avoid further spread of the illness.

Measles is a serious respiratory disease of the lungs and breathing tubes that starts with a high fever, followed soon after by a cough, runny nose and red eyes. On the third to seventh day of illness, a rash of tiny, red spots breaks out. The rash starts at the head and spreads to the rest of the body. Symptoms usually appear about 11 days after exposure with a range of seven to 21 days.

Measles spreads when a person infected with the measles virus breathes, coughs or sneezes. It is very contagious, with the virus lingering in a room where a person with measles has been for up to two hours. Measles can be serious. It can lead to pneumonia, encephalitis (swelling of the brain) and death. Young children are at higher risk for complications, especially those under 12 months old who are too young to receive the measles vaccination.