Despite the fact that measles is a very contagious virus, the number of measles outbreaks in the United States has been relatively low in recent years. Vaccines have made measles very rare, but they do not prevent all measles cases. There are still many people who get infected from travelers with the virus. The best way to protect yourself from measles is to get a vaccine. The MMRV vaccine is available to babies as young as six months of age. If you’re planning to travel internationally, make sure you get vaccinated.
In January through October of this year, a total of 1,249 measles cases were reported in the United States. These cases represent the most measles cases reported in the country since 1992. The majority of outbreaks occurred in communities with a high rate of unvaccinated people. A small number of cases were associated with a Disneyland outbreak in California. Other outbreaks were smaller in size and short in duration.
The CDC is working to contain this outbreak. This includes notifying people who may have been exposed to the disease and providing health care providers with the information they need to care for patients with measles. It’s important to note that measles is a very serious illness. It can lead to pneumonia, encephalitis, and death. It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. If you have visited a location during the month of February and think you may have been exposed to the virus, you should contact a health care provider right away.
This outbreak occurred after a young child visited a measles prone country. The case was laboratory confirmed, and two children developed symptoms after returning to the United States. In the case of the first child, a health care provider at a local drug store was informed about the contagious period. Both children tested positive for measles.
The Minnesota Department of Health is working to notify people who may have been exposed to the disease. This includes notifying people who may have visited a restaurant where the patient visited. The Minnesota Department of Health is also working with health care providers to make sure that they are informed of the measles case. A fact sheet is available to help staff and parents understand the facts about the outbreak. If you have questions about how to prevent measles, contact your local health department.
In addition to outbreaks in the United States, there have been measles outbreaks in countries around the world. For example, measles cases have increased dramatically in the United Kingdom over the past year. This increase is part of a “perfect storm” of pandemic-related disruptions. The diversion of resources from routine immunization and vaccine availability have created an environment in which the disease can spread more easily in unprotected communities.
According to data sources, there were 22 outbreaks reported in the United States during the first two weeks of October, with the majority of cases in unvaccinated persons. The majority of the outbreaks were in New York City and New York State. There were also cases in other states that were linked to the Disneyland outbreak.