Chances are you probably have heard about measles in the news lately. You may be wondering, how contagious is it? How do I protect myself and my children? Are there any local cases? All valid questions that deserve an answer, but first, here are the facts.
Did you know that there are currently 128 confirmed measles cases in the nation and it is only April?1 Last year there were only 58 confirmed cases for the entire year of 2023.1
If 10 unprotected individuals are exposed to someone with measles, 9/10 individuals will become ill.2 1/5 people in the U.S. with measles will be hospitalized.2
Measles is becoming an increasing problem, with a major uptick in the last few years. It is very contagious, spreading through the air when a person coughs or sneezes. You can get measles just by being in a room where a person who has measles has been, even up to two hours after that person has left.2 An infected person can also spread the disease to others before even knowing they have symptoms themselves.2 What are the major signs and symptoms?
- Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
- Rash (3-5 days after symptoms begin)
- High fever (may spike to more than 104° F)
- Cough
- Runny nose
In 2000, measles was completely eliminated in the United States.3 So what has changed and how can we take action?
The best protection against measles is the highly effective measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. This vaccine provides long-lasting protection against all strains, being 97% effective after two doses.
- Children should receive the first dose at 12 – 15 months of age, and the second dose at 4 – 6 years of age.2
- If you or your family plan on travelling internationally, it is crucial you consider receiving the vaccine, as many travelers bring measles into the U.S. from other countries.
Post-COVID, vaccine rates for children are down; Ohio’s measles vaccination rate is at 89.3%.1 We understand parents’ concerns about vaccine safety, often as a result of misinformation on social media such as conversation surrounding vitamin A. As a parent, you have the power to protect your child against measles.
Herd immunity, which is when more than 95% of people in a community are vaccinated, is needed to protect infants that are too young for vaccines and those who are immunocompromised. This is an extremely important concept to understand in order to stop the spread of measles from getting worse in the years to come.
Out of the current confirmed cases, 5 of them are from Ohio.4 There are no confirmed cases from Medina County at this time, let’s keep it that way!
Call 330-723-9688, option 1 to speak with a healthcare provider and schedule a vaccination. For more information on additional services we provide, visit our website.
