With 800+ cases of measles and three deaths reported in the U.S. already this year – and more than 10% of cases leading to hospitalization – the Washington County Health Department wants everyone in the community to be aware and well-educated on prevention, symptoms and treatment.
“Measles is a highly contagious, respiratory virus that will kill between one and three out of every 1,000 children infected and compromise the immune systems of survivors for the long-term,” says Dr. Diana Gaviria, medical director and deputy health officer of the health department. “While cases have been so low in the U.S. that measles was declared ‘eliminated’ from the country in 2000, it’s back and spreading, with 24 states currently reporting cases.”
In the short term, measles usually causes fever and respiratory symptoms like coughing, before the appearance of a distinctive rash that spreads from the hairline down the body.
“To avoid potentially exposing others, if you or your child is experiencing these symptoms, it’s important that you call your primary care health provider to discuss your concerns before going in person to an appointment,” says Dr. Gaviria. “The health care provider can ask all of the important questions and help direct you for testing, treatment and care.”
The Washington County Health Department offers MMR vaccinations for children and adults by appointment by calling the nursing line at 240-313-3210.
Vaccination status is vital to know, as the two-shot measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is 97% effective at preventing measles. Before the vaccines were introduced, U.S. measles cases totaled 3-4 million, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“Because of the vaccine’s success, many people don’t realize how bad measles can be,” says Dr. Gaviria. An estimated one in 20 children who catch measles will get pneumonia, which is what kills most children who die of the disease, according to the CDC. In about one in 1,000 cases, measles causes brain swelling, or encephalitis, which can cause seizures. When it’s not fatal, the swelling can subside, but can lead to permanent brain damage and other lasting side effects, such as blindness or deafness.
“There are no treatments for measles that can reduce the risk of complications from the virus,” says Dr. Gaviria. “Vaccine is protective against all of these complications, by avoiding getting infected at all.”
CDC data collected from state and local vaccination programs shows childhood immunization rates in the U.S. on a downward trend. Nearly all of the current cases in the U.S. are among patients not vaccinated or with unknown vaccination status.
