Barrington Infant Has "Probable" Case of Measles

The state Department of Health is investigating a “probable” case of measles in an unvaccinated Barrington infant.

The Providence Journal reported that the state is waiting for lab results to conclusively determine the infant has measles.

The infant reportedly was in contact with other children in an unspecified classroom and they were deemed to not be immune and as a result, are being treated with post-exposure vaccinations.

There currently is no public health concern related to the case, a health department spokesman said, and people should view the situation as a reminder to ensure all family members are up to date on vaccinations.

Measles is a highly contagious disease that can often be fatal in very young children and older adults. The severe fever associated with the disease can cause permanent brain damage.

The return of measles has proven frustrating for health officials as the disease was considered eradicated in the United States as recently as 2000. But misinformation about vaccines has resulted in many parents opting not to vaccinate children, which opens the door for the infection to spread to infants who are too young to get the vaccine.

The Centers for Disease Control reported that there were 668 cases of measles in 2014.

The health department was notified by the child’s doctor on July 21.