You may have heard that a recent public health emergency was declared in Washington as a result of the measles outbreak. Portland recently declared an emergency as well. Measles is a highly contagious illness and if you have not been vaccinated or have not had the measles you are particularly at risk. Measles is contagious before any rash appears and is airborne, which is why it can be spread so easily.
Here are a few things to know:
Check to see if you were in locations of exposure. This list is specific to King County. If you aren’t in Washington State, watch the CDC Website for any outbreaks in your local area.
CDC has put together a list of the most important facts about measles for parents.
Measles can be serious.
Some people think of measles as just a little rash and fever that clears up in a few days, but measles can cause serious health complications, especially in children younger than 5 years of age. There is no way to tell in advance the severity of the symptoms your child will experience.
- About 1 in 4 people in the U.S. who get measles will be hospitalized
- 1 out of every 1,000 people with measles will develop brain swelling, which could lead to brain damage
- 1 or 2 out of 1,000 people with measles will die, even with the best care
Some of the more common measles symptoms include:
- Fever
- Rash
- Runny nose
- Red eyess
Measles is very contagious.
Measles spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It is so contagious that if one person has it, 9 out of 10 people around him or her will also become infected if they are not protected. Your child can get measles just by being in a room where a person with measles has been, even up to two hours after that person has left. An infected person can spread measles to others even before knowing he/she has the disease—from four days before developing the measles rash through four days afterward.
- Your child can still get measles in United States.
Measles was declared eliminated from the U.S. in 2000 thanks to a highly effective vaccination program. Eliminated means that the disease is no longer constantly present in this country. However, measles is still common in many parts of the world, including some countries in Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and Africa. Worldwide, 19 cases of measles per 1 million persons are reported each year and 89,780 people, mostly children, die from the disease. Even if your family does not travel internationally, you could come into contact with measles anywhere in your community. Every year, measles is brought into the United States by unvaccinated travelers (Americans or foreign visitors) who get measles while they are in other countries. Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk. - The first dose at 12 through 15 months of age
- The second dose 4 through 6 years of ageYou have the power to protect your child against measles with a safe and effective vaccine.
The best protection against measles is measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. MMR vaccine provides long-lasting protection against all strains of measles. Your child needs two doses of MMR vaccine for best protection:
If your family is traveling overseas, the vaccine recommendations are a little different:
- If your baby is 6 through 11 months old, he or she should receive 1 dose of MMR vaccine before leaving.
- If your child is 12 months of age or older, he or she will need 2 doses of MMR vaccine (separated by at
- least 28 days) before departure.
If you or your children aren’t vaccinated or can’t be vaccinated, please keep up to date with information and avoid areas of high exposure. You may also want to consider automating tasks like grocery shopping or other highly public tasks. See your doctor or pediatrician for more information on the vaccine.
