Two more measles cases have been confirmed in East Tennessee

Tennessee has two additional confirmed cases of measles, both in East Tennessee residents, the Tennessee Department of Health said Monday.

That brings the total number of measles cases in Tennessee in 2019 to three, all in East Tennessee, and all connected to one another. Public health officials said national levels of measles this week hit the highest mark since the disease was considered eradicated in 2000.

Tennessee's first 2019 case of the measles was reported in mid-April. The patient, a man, is not a resident of Knox County, but he spent time here while he was contagious, health officials said. 

“We expected to have more measles cases linked to the first one, and these new cases occurred in people we had identified and were monitoring as contacts of the first patient,” said Tennessee Immunization Program Medical Director Michelle Fiscus said in a news release. “The good news is there are no additional contacts of these new cases that have not already been identified.”

The man also traveled to Mississippi and Alabama, where officials also warned residents about possible exposure at certain places.

During his travels, the patient stopped at two locations in Tennessee. Customers there during a certain time period might have been exposed to measles.

• Mapco, 200 Browns Ferry Road, Chattanooga, from 7:30-10 p.m. April 11;
• Speedway, 2148 N. Charles G. Seivers Blvd., Clinton, from 5:30-8 p.m. April 12.

Anyone who visited either of these locations during those times should:

• Check your vaccination status. Locate your immunization records. People who have had two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella or MMR vaccine are protected against measles and need to take no further action in regard to an exposure to measles. Contact your health care provider if you cannot locate your immunization records and/or are not certain if you are immune to measles;
• If you are not immune to measles, watch for symptoms of measles. 

Measles is a highly contagious disease, spread through the air. The virus can live two airs in airspace and on surfaces, but it can take up to 21 days for symptoms to show up. 

MEASLES IN TENNESSEE:What you need to know and do now

Symptoms can include fever, runny nose, body aches, watery eyes and white spots in the mouth, with the telltale red, spotty rash beginning a few days afterward on the face and then spreading over the body.

Nearly one in three measles patients will develop complications, including ear infections, diarrhea or pneumonia. Measles can be fatal in about one to two of every 1,000 cases.  

Health officials advise people to make sure they've had the measles-mumps-rubella, or MMR, vaccine. If you were born before 1957, the CDC said, you likely already are immune to measles. Those born later can check with their doctors' offices or county health departments to see if they've been immunized.  

Anyone with symptoms should call their health care provider and make arrangements before going to a health care center. 

Tennessee has a measles hotline, 865-549-5343, that will be answered from 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Eastern time.

Measles cases in the U.S. hits 704, the highest point this century

The number of cases of measles in the U.S. reached 704 in 22 states – the highest mark since the highly contagious virus was declared eliminated in this country in 2000 – the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Monday.

Last week, Peter Marks, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said measles has again emerged as a public health threat. He added that it is an "urgent public health priority" to monitor measles, mumps and rubella and raise awareness about the importance of immunization.

USA TODAY contributed to this report.