LARNED — With the recent outbreak of measles in Kansas, Pawnee Valley Community Hospital’s Infection Prevention is offering information to the public.  
While there have been no reported cases of measles at PVCH it is important to be aware of the situation.
First and foremost, if you think you or a family member was exposed to the measles stay home, or away from public places, except to see a health care provider.
If you need to visit your healthcare provider, call ahead so appropriate measures can be taken to protect other patients and staff.  The doctor will arrange for you to be seen in a quarantined environment where you will not expose others to the disease. If not, the doctor can talk you through how you can treat the disease from your home.
Measles is highly contagious and is spread through the air by breathing, coughing, or sneezing. The signs and symptoms of measles typically begin one to two weeks after someone is exposed to an infected person.
People at high risk for severe illness and complications from measles include infants and children aged 5 years and younger and adults aged 20 years and above, pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems.
Symptoms include:
• Fever
• Blotchy rash on the skin, which spreads from the head to the trunk then to the lower extremities (Measles can be spread to others from four days before to four days after the rash appears.)
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
• Feeling run down, achy
• Tiny white spots with bluish-white centers found inside the mouth (Koplik spots)
For more information on measles   http://www.kdheks.gov/epi/measles.htm.