In response to the apparent surge in cases, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a measles alert, urging Americans to ensure adequate protection against the disease before traveling abroad this summer.
In its new guidancePublic health agencies stress the importance of getting two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine at least two weeks before traveling to areas with active measles outbreaks.
According to the CDC, two doses of the MMR vaccine provide 97 percent protection against the measles virus. Even brief exposure to the virus in unvaccinated people is at a considerably higher risk of illness. You can catch measles simply by staying in a room where an infected person was in within two hours of leaving, the CDC said.
The CDC recommends that children get their first dose of the MMR vaccine when they are 12 to 15 months old, and a second dose when they start kindergarten (usually around age 4 to 6). Unvaccinated adolescents and adults should receive two doses at least 28 days apart.
The warning comes after the CDC reported a spike in measles cases in the United States. As of June 8, 16 cases had been reported in 2023, compared to 3 cases during the same period in 2022. Eighty-eight percent of these cases were linked to international travel, and most patients were unvaccinated.
Recent cases in Fresno County, California, further underscore the importance of vaccinations in protecting the community. Health officials confirmed two cases of measles in one household, but there was no clear source of infection.
“These cases remind us of the critical role of vaccinations in protecting communities. We urge all parents to work with your pediatrician or contact the health department to help keep your child up to date on vaccinations,” said Dr. Rais Vohra, Freys North County health officials said in a statement: nbc news.
Measles outbreaks are not limited to the United States but are occurring worldwide, especially in India, Indonesia, parts of the Middle East and much of Africa. The UK has also seen an increase in cases this year compared to last year.
To prevent measles outbreaks, the CDC recommends a community vaccination rate of 95%. However, vaccination rates have declined during the pandemic, leaving some vulnerabilities.
in a joint report A November report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted that 40 million children will miss at least one dose of the measles vaccine in 2021, a record high, underscoring the looming global threat the virus poses .
It’s worth noting that there is no specific antiviral treatment for measles, and symptoms typically include high fever, cough, runny nose, tearing eyes, and a distinctive rash that develops within the first week of illness, According to CDC.
Babies and young children are especially at risk of serious complications, including brain swelling and death, while pregnant women infected with the virus may have premature births and low birthweight babies.
Published by Medicaldaily.com