Immunization Works!
In the last week there have been some calls to the health department regarding suspected cases of measles in the community. There have been NO physician diagnosed cases of measles reported (law requires that cases be reported to the local health department) and some children with measles-like symptoms have been tested and were negative for measles. The symptoms of measles are similar to other infections and a blood test is needed to diagnose measles.
There are two forms of measles. Both are caused by a virus. The German or three-day measles (rubella) is the less severe, causing mild rash on face and neck, mild fever and arthritis-like symptoms in the joints. The measles is more severe, with rash over the entire body, higher fever, runny nose and cough lasting longer than three days. Both diseases are spread via breathing, coughing or sneezing and are very contagious to un-immunized or under-immunized persons. Persons can only get the disease from persons ill with the disease. A person is not contagious if he or she has been exposed but is not sick. Measles can lead to more serious complications such as ear infection, pneumonia and death. The biggest risk of rubella is to unborn babies. If a woman gets rubella while pregnant, there is an 80 percent chance her baby will be born deaf or blind, with a damaged heart or small brain, or mentally retarded. The incubation period for both forms of measles ranges from seven to 21 days.
Since 1971, there has been a vaccine to protect children and adults so that a well-immunized community does not have to worry about these diseases and the serious illness that can affect their children. MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) is a safe vaccine that requires two doses for optimal protection. The first dose is given at 12 months of age and the second dose is given at 5 years of age but any age can receive this vaccine as two doses given 28 days apart. It does take seven to 14 days after the vaccine is given to receive protection and optimal protection is not achieved until two doses are given.
Plan ahead - don’t wait until measles occurs in our under-immunized county to immunize your children. It is only a matter of time until a case is diagnosed in this county. By immunizing according to the recommended schedule, your child will be protected.
There are two forms of measles. Both are caused by a virus. The German or three-day measles (rubella) is the less severe, causing mild rash on face and neck, mild fever and arthritis-like symptoms in the joints. The measles is more severe, with rash over the entire body, higher fever, runny nose and cough lasting longer than three days. Both diseases are spread via breathing, coughing or sneezing and are very contagious to un-immunized or under-immunized persons. Persons can only get the disease from persons ill with the disease. A person is not contagious if he or she has been exposed but is not sick. Measles can lead to more serious complications such as ear infection, pneumonia and death. The biggest risk of rubella is to unborn babies. If a woman gets rubella while pregnant, there is an 80 percent chance her baby will be born deaf or blind, with a damaged heart or small brain, or mentally retarded. The incubation period for both forms of measles ranges from seven to 21 days.
Since 1971, there has been a vaccine to protect children and adults so that a well-immunized community does not have to worry about these diseases and the serious illness that can affect their children. MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) is a safe vaccine that requires two doses for optimal protection. The first dose is given at 12 months of age and the second dose is given at 5 years of age but any age can receive this vaccine as two doses given 28 days apart. It does take seven to 14 days after the vaccine is given to receive protection and optimal protection is not achieved until two doses are given.
Plan ahead - don’t wait until measles occurs in our under-immunized county to immunize your children. It is only a matter of time until a case is diagnosed in this county. By immunizing according to the recommended schedule, your child will be protected.
Published: March 31, 2011
