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Information Launch
Sept. 29, 2022
Dad and mom urged to verify youngsters are updated on immunizations
The Minnesota Division of Well being (MDH) is working with native public well being businesses and well being care suppliers within the Twin Cities space to research 13 circumstances of measles that occurred June via September amongst a number of completely different households with unvaccinated youngsters. Most of those youngsters had a historical past of journey to a rustic the place measles is widespread and circulating. The latest case didn’t have a reported journey historical past, however investigators are nonetheless working to find out how transmission could have occurred.
All circumstances are within the Twin Cities space. The kids have been as younger as two years previous to youngsters of their early teenagers, and simply over a 3rd are pre-teen. Seven youngsters have been hospitalized for remedy of measles.
Minnesota’s 13 circumstances are a number of occasions better than the variety of circumstances the state sees in a typical 12 months. The upper variety of circumstances prompted well being officers to alert well being care suppliers to observe for indicators of measles of their sufferers, particularly these with latest journey to areas the place the virus is circulating.
The chance that the latest case might point out that measles is spreading in the neighborhood prompted well being officers as we speak to induce mother and father to verify their youngsters are updated on their childhood immunizations, which embody the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.
“The measles virus is very contagious and really profitable at discovering people who find themselves unvaccinated, even inside teams of people that could also be vaccinated,” stated Dr. Ruth Lynfield, State Epidemiologist. “Measles is usually a very severe illness, inflicting hospitalizations and typically loss of life. That’s why it’s so necessary to keep up excessive vaccination charges for measles.”
The MMR vaccine is secure and extremely efficient in opposition to measles, in keeping with Jennifer Heath, immunizations program coordinator for MDH. As a result of the virus itself is so contagious, Heath stated, an general vaccination price of no less than 90% in our communities is required to maintain the virus from inflicting giant outbreaks. Minnesota noticed a 3% drop in school-age immunizations in the course of the pandemic due largely to folks not getting in for routine well-child-care visits.
“Even a small drop within the immunization protection price means there are hundreds extra youngsters who could possibly be weak to illness as a result of they don’t seem to be vaccinated,” Heath stated. “If the protection price in a setting like a childcare or faculty is considerably lower than 85 or 90 %, that’s an outbreak ready to occur,” she added.
General, the danger to most of the people from these circumstances is low, as a result of most Minnesotans are vaccinated for measles via routine immunizations required for varsity attendance. Many of the youngsters concerned have been remoted when signs began, so exposures have been restricted to well being care and household settings. Nevertheless, it simply takes one case of travel-associated measles passing it to another person in the neighborhood who is just not vaccinated to begin an outbreak in a neighborhood with decrease vaccination charges, Lynfield stated.
Any case of measles causes concern for well being officers. Measles spreads simply by coughing, speaking, or being in the identical room with somebody who has measles. Preliminary signs of measles embody a excessive fever, cough, runny nostril, and watery eyes adopted by a rash that sometimes spreads from the top to the remainder of the physique. It usually takes 8 to 12 days from publicity to somebody with measles to the primary symptom, which is normally fever. The measles rash normally seems two to 3 days after the fever begins. If you could have signs of measles, name your physician or clinic and they’ll allow you to know if you could are available for a go to.
Measles was declared eradicated within the U.S. in 2000, however it continues to be widespread in different elements of the world. In a typical 12 months, Minnesota sees one to 4 circumstances of measles, usually in individuals who traveled to nations the place measles is extra widespread.
There are measles outbreaks occurring in lots of nations round the world and measles is widespread in different nations, so it can be crucial for anybody from the U.S. touring abroad to be vaccinated or have immunity in opposition to measles. in 2018, there have been greater than 140,000 measles deaths globally, principally amongst youngsters underneath the age of 5.
“We have to preserve our excessive vaccination charges to verify measles doesn’t make a comeback in Minnesota,” stated Margaret Roddy, part supervisor for vaccine preventable illness at MDH. “So long as there may be measles someplace on the earth and other people journey, the danger to Minnesota stays. The measles vaccine is secure and efficient. With out it, the danger of illness is actual.”
One of the best ways to stop measles is thru vaccination. Youngsters ought to obtain two doses of MMR vaccine: The primary at 12 to fifteen months of age, and the second at 4 to six years of age. Youngsters 6 to 12 months ought to get an early dose of MMR vaccine if they’re touring to a rustic the place measles is widespread. For all ages, it is very important speak to your physician should you are going to be traveling to another country. Your physician can examine to ensure you and your loved ones are updated in your immunizations and ensure you do not want every other immunizations.
MDH encourages folks to examine their data to substantiate that they and their youngsters have acquired the MMR vaccine. Minnesotans can request their vaccination data by visiting Find My Immunization Record.
For extra data, go to the MDH measles web site.
-MDH-
Media inquiries:
Doug Schultz
MDH Communications
651-201-4993
doug.schultz@state.mn.us
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