The first confirmed case of measles in San Bernardino County is an eight-month old baby who traveled internationally. County health officials said the baby had not yet been vaccinated against the highly contagious and potentially deadly disease. Babies typically do not receive their first immunization against measles until they are a year old. Sara Snyder has more about the worst outbreak of this extremely contagious disease…
Measles is a highly contagious and potentially severe disease that causes fever, rash, cough and red, watery eyes. Measles spreads very easily by air and by direct contact with an infected person. It is contagious from approximately four days before the rash appears until four days after the rash appears. State health officials say there are 56 confirmed cases of measles in California as of last week. Of those, four are from patients who traveled internationally. Nationwide, there have been 1,095 cases of measles so far in 2019; in all of last year, there were only 372. Health officials say that maintaining high vaccination rates is the best way to prevent outbreaks of the disease.
“Maintaining high vaccination rates is vital to prevent outbreaks of disease in our community,” said Dr. Maxwell Ohikhuare, Health Officer. “Measles is still common in many parts of the world including Europe, Asia, South America and Africa. Checking vaccination before departure is key in preventing infection and is the best defense against acquiring measles locally and internationally.”
Residents planning to travel internationally should visit www.cdc.gov/measles/travel-vaccine-assessment/index.html to determine their vaccination status and risk of potential exposures to vaccine-preventable diseases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends all unvaccinated individuals receive MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) at least two weeks before departure, if possible. Infants who are traveling can be vaccinated as young as six months of age.
Children are recommended to get their first dose of MMR vaccine at 12 to 15 months of age. The second dose of MMR is recommended between four to six years of age. Immunized adults do not need boosters. However, anyone born since 1957 who has not had two doses of vaccine may still be vulnerable to measles and should ask their medical provider about getting immunized.
Please visit the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/measles/index.html for more information about measles or contact the Communicable Disease Section at 1-800-722-4794 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
