Friesen reports that so far for the year there has been only a single hospitalization for measles and the other confirmed cases are recovering well. Very importantly, all of these cases have been linked to travel to Guatemala, including the case confirmed at a Belize city Primary school, and another where the infected person had attended the National Agricultural And Trade Show.
Dr Laura Friesen, Acting Dep Director of Public Health and Wellness
"Yes the case that we had in Belize City was a child that was attending school, we have done contact tracing for the whole, any of the exposed students, teachers and parents we have had very good collaboration from everyone involved, ring vaccination has started and is almost completed and all persons who are at risks and at recommendation of the ministry would be currently in isolation."
Reporter-
"There was also a report that was shared earlier that one of the contracted cases may have visited the Agric show is that true?"
Dr Laura Friesen
"Yes we did receive information that one of the persons that was confirmed did a brief visit on the 2nd of May to the national agriculture show she was there only briefly and at that point she did not realize that she had measles. Of course when we realized this we of course encouraged her to immediately isolate as soon as she was reported and she has recovered very well and she has complied with the isolation recommendations from there onward."
According to Friesen both cases were quickly isolated after and are recovering well, but regardless of how quickly they move to contain each confirmed case there is always a possibility of spread.
Reporter-
"So you are not viewing that case and the school case to be on material concern you don't think it could be a source of potential further spread?"
Dr Laura Friesen
"All cases of measles in the country have potential for further spread because it is a very contagious disease however like I said all persons should get vaccinated to reduce the risk of getting infected you might get exposed anywhere and you don't even realize it because you might not know that the person is sick so that is why we are saying again and again you need to get vaccinated because the exposure probably will come at some point especially if you are traveling, receiving visitors or going to a public event where there are international visitors as well and so of course we are concerned but we are doing all the public health measures that we need to contain it. And so far we have had good collaboration we have detected the cases early on and we have been able to ring vaccinate the persons that are vulnerable and put them in isolation if needed."
We'll keep following the outbreak into next week.
