Measles Outbreaks

As the cases of measles across the United States continue to increase this week, it is important that parents know the facts about measles and outbreaks. Measles is a virus that is spread through respiratory droplets, and it is highly contagious. Symptoms of measles include fever, dry cough, eye redness, white spots in the mouth, and large, flat, blotchy pink/red rash. Most children recover from the measles, but it can lead to dangerous complications causing pneumonia, brain swelling, and death.

Measles vaccination is safe and works very well to protect from infection. Measles vaccine is part of the MMR series, which is given at age 12-15 months and between 4-6 years old. Highly publicized links between the MMR vaccine and autism have been proven to be completely false. Nearly all of the cases reported in the recent outbreak have been in unvaccinated people.  Most have been in children.

If your child has not received MMR vaccine, please schedule it now. The vaccine can be effective in 10-14 days.

Currently, there are outbreaks in Texas, New Mexico, Georgia, and New Jersey.  At the time of this writing, there have been 19 hospitalizations and one child death reported.