A recently published study in the Journal of the American Medical Association says “the phenomenon of vaccine refusal” increases the risk for measles among individuals who are not or refuse to get vaccinated, and among those who are already fully vaccinated. Measles, a disease that was considered eliminated 16 years ago in the U.S., has made a comeback in which … Read More
How do you Prevent #measles?
It’s simple: Get vaccinated. You get two doses of the MMR vaccine. Children usually get the first dose when they are 12 months old, and a second before kindergarten. On its web site, the CDC calls the vaccine “very effective” and states that “one dose is about 93% effective at preventing measles and two doses about 97% effective.” Before the … Read More
What are the Symptoms of Measles?
What are the first symptoms, and how quickly do they usually show up? People usually get a fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes first. Within a few days, a red rash starts on the face and can spread to the rest of the body. If you notice those signs, tell your doctor right away. What are the possible complications? … Read More
What is Measles?
Measles is a respiratory disease caused by a virus. It can have life-threatening complications. The CDC calls it the “most deadly of all childhood rash/fever illnesses.” It spreads easily, but the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine can prevent it. The CDC recommends that all children, and some adults, get the MMR vaccine. The U.S. declared measles eliminated from the nation in 2000, … Read More
Contagion in the Herd: How One Person Can Set Off A Measles Outbreak
Americans may be victims of their own success when it comes to the eradication of infectious diseases and take their disease-free lives for granted, says Jorge Parada, MD, hospital epidemiologist and medical director of the infection prevention and control program at Loyola University Health System. “There are plenty of countries in the world where measles and chicken pox are very … Read More