The Baltimore City Health Department learned today that laboratory testing has confirmed that a 12-month-old Baltimore City resident does not have measles.  “We are very glad that this child doesn’t have measles,” said Dr. Leana Wen, Baltimore City Health Commissioner. “This should be a wake-up call, however, for any parents or caregivers who have not had their children immunized.  Getting children vaccinated against all types of preventable diseases protects not only that child, but everyone around them.”

Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen is reminding Baltimoreans to take the cold temperatures seriously in light of two recent cold-weather related deaths in the city. Baltimore’s first cold weather death was a homeless man in the 18-44 age group which occurred on January 6, 2015.  The second death, of an elderly resident who was living in a home with no heat or electricity, occurred on January 24, 2015.   

The Baltimore City Health Department is investigating a possible measles case in a 12-month-old Baltimore City resident.   There has not been a documented case of measles in Baltimore City in the last decade; Baltimore has high vaccination rates, with nearly 99 percent of public school children being vaccinated.