Editorial note from KCBD News Director Matt Ernst: This story and its headline have been updated, after confirming additional information. After the NBC News story was published Friday, KCBD staff contacted a UMC spokesman Saturday, and worked for hours to independently confirm details before publishing and broadcasting Saturday night. This story’s headline at that time reflected the spokesman disputed part of NBC’s story. We have since visited with NBC News staff, which confirmed its report was based on multiple well-placed sources in Lubbock. Additionally, KCBD has independently confirmed details below. UMC has issued an updated statement.
UMC has updated its statement on a case of measles at the Children’s Hospital last week, first reported by NBC News Friday. A hospital spokesman said because of HIPAA restrictions, which is a law that prevents health providers and other related individuals and organizations from releasing personally identifiable information, he cannot give any specifics, even gender.
Late Monday UMC issued this response to NBC’s inquiries:
“Last week, UMC admitted an individual who after being screened demonstrated no symptoms associated with measles. The following day, the patient began exhibiting symptoms of measles and was immediately tested and placed in isolation until discharge, and we contacted the county health department, all in accordance with our protocols. The patient was not in contact with other patients while in the hospital. Out of an abundance of caution, we proactively offered a small number of patients who were admitted to the same floor during this time prophylaxis, again in consultation with the county health department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC.)
“University Medical Center, like all hospitals, has policies and procedures in place related to care for patients with infectious diseases and regularly conducts drills to ensure appropriate response. Due to federal patient privacy regulations, I am unable to share details about the patient’s location within the hospital.”
And late Monday UMC issued this updated statement:
“Last week, a patient while admitted began exhibiting symptoms associated with the measles. Our team immediately implemented our infectious disease protocols: testing the patient, moving them to an isolation room and contacting the county health department. The patient did not have direct contact with other patients during their stay.
“Out of an abundance of caution and because of ongoing measles outbreak in our area, we have implemented temporary masking requirements for all visitors who enter our patient care areas on the 1st and 2nd floor in the Children’s Hospital to further protect patients. We are taking every possible precaution to ensure the safety of our patients, families, and visitors. We appreciate the CDC’s recent visit, where they affirmed our safety measures.
“If you believe you may have been exposed to measles, you should contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible. If you develop symptoms such as fever, cough, or a rash, seek medical care as needed and inform your provider before arriving to prevent potential exposure to others.”
The Big Cities Health Coalition called a virtual news conference Tuesday, to discuss the ongoing outbreak and alleviate concerns nationwide, with little to say about this specific case of measles at the hospital last week.
Here is what KCBD has confirmed from several other sources on this case and potential exposure to others. A pregnant woman was screened for measles and admitted to the hospital last Wednesday, showing no sign of the illness.
But when symptoms began to appear during labor and delivery, she was immediately isolated in a negative pressure room, which keeps the airflow in that room instead of circulating elsewhere.
So how could she have measles, if they screen patients before they are admitted? Without speaking specifically about this case, Dr. Simbo Ige, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, discussed this topic during the news conference.
“It is possible for people to be exposed and not know it. And not know that they were exposed,” Dr. Ige said. “This is the thing about measles. So sometimes, it’s not like they’re lying, it’s just that they weren’t aware. And you can transmit measles even before you’re sick.”
Katherine Wells, Director of the Lubbock Health Department, said this outbreak is prompting health officials to rethink their screening methods. Without referencing UMC, she said this is not the first woman with measles to give birth during this outbreak.
“There have been multiple pregnant women…throughout this outbreak that have been infected with measles,” Wells said. “This is a large outbreak and it is going to impact women of child-bearing age.”
The baby born last week at UMC Children’s was also placed in isolation.
During a news conference February 26, after officials confirmed a child infected with measles died, Covenant Health doctors discussed this same type of negative pressure room that prevents the spread of infected air.
UMC reports that since the patient had no direct contact with other patients, and its staff is fully immunized against measles, they believe no other person was exposed last week.
However, as we have reported since this outbreak began, measles is one of the most contagious viruses in the world. According to the CDC, measles can live for up to two hours in an airspace after an infected person leaves the area.
UMC offered added protection to anyone who was on that floor at that time, if they chose to accept it. This means an MMR vaccine to those who were old enough to get it, or an immunoglobulin shot to babies under one year old. That’s basically a high-protein shot to boost their immunity until they are old enough to get the vaccine.
During the virtual news conference Tuesday, Dr. Ige said she is concerned some patients are trying treatments seen on social media, like using vitamin A to treat or prevent measles at home.
“Vitamin A was not the reason why we got to elimination [of measles in the United States]. It was the vaccination,” Dr. Ige said. “If we want to control this, then vaccination is the way to go.”
Looking back at last week, a UMC spokesman told KCBD they might have taken a different approach with the media on this, but they were more concerned about following CDC standards to ensure the safety of patients, their families and visitors, with HIPAA guidelines in mind.
We reported Thursday UMC has issued a mask protocol for all visitors who enter the Children’s Hospital. UMC administrators said in its news release Thursday the health and safety of all patients are top priority, especially when it comes to newborns and immunocompromised people.
One thing emphasized during Tuesday’s discussion was that any woman who is even thinking about getting pregnant needs to get the MMR vaccine.
“Women before they get pregnant need to make sure they’ve been vaccinated, so they’re protecting both themselves and the unborn child,” Wells said.
“Pregnant women who are vaccinated then provide protection to their newborn, for like the first six months,” said Dr. Phil Huang, director of Dallas County Health and Human Services.
Lubbock’s Public Health Department is offering the measles, mumps and rubella vaccines at no cost for anyone who has never had them. Click here to find MMR vaccine clinic times.
RELATED STORY: Tuesday update shows 279 confirmed measles cases
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