The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services is investigating a possible measles case in a 1-year-old from Anchorage who returned to the state from California this month.
Though whether Rivki Webb tested positive for measles Friday because she contracted the disease while traveling or simply because she had recently received the vaccine remains unknown. Test results will provide the answer late next week, according to a statement from DHSS.
Rivki began showing symptoms of measles last week.
Between the end of December and beginning of January, Rivki visited the San Diego area with her parents. During the trip, she celebrated her first birthday, according to her mother, Emily Webb, who held the energetic infant at her pediatrician's office Friday.
On Jan. 12, the family flew back to Anchorage. One day later, on a Tuesday, Rivki went to an appointment at Polar Pediatrics, where she received her measles vaccination, said her doctor, Monique Karaganis.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children should be given one dose of the measles vaccine at age 1 year and another dose between ages 4 and 6.
Two days after her pediatrician visit, Rivki developed a fever, and by the next night she had a rash, Webb said.
In California, health officials continued to confirm cases of measles from an outbreak that began at Disneyland. By Friday, the CDC reported that 68 people across 11 states had contracted measles, most linked to the amusement park.
The CDC characterizes measles as a "highly contagious respiratory disease." It starts with a fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes and a sore throat and leads to a red rash that covers the entire body.
A nasal swab taken from Rivka tested positive for measles Friday but DHSS said that could be because of the vaccine. A second test will confirm if the strain matches the one in the California cases.
"So the question now is," Karaganis said, "is this the case of a measles outbreak (in Alaska) from California or is it related to her getting vaccinated?"
She said it is possible to develop a fever or sore muscles in the first 48 hours after the measles vaccination, but "what's striking is the rash on Friday which is three days after the shot."
Jason Grenn, public information officer for DHSS, said the department's epidemiology team conducted interviews and was working with the infant's family and pediatrician Friday to "confirm or not confirm" the measles case.
In a statement Friday evening, DHSS said that because of the recent vaccination, "... there is a high potential that this was not a true case of the measles."