Many people are concerned about the news regarding measles outbreaks across the US. Measles outbreaks continue to pop up across the United States, with the number of confirmed cases of the once-eradicated disease now exceeding 700 in 22 states — but so far, only one person in Colorado has become ill with the highly contagious virus. It’s the only confirmed case of measles in Colorado this year, but health experts said the state’s notoriously low vaccination rate makes communities here vulnerable to a possible outbreak.
In 2000, measles was declared eliminated from the United States. However, measles cases and outbreaks still occur every year in the United States because measles is still commonly transmitted in many parts of the world, including countries in Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and Africa. Worldwide, 19 cases of measles per 1 million persons are reported each year; an estimated 89,780 die each year.
Measles is a virus with symptoms that include high fever, cough, runny nose, watery red eyes and a rash (cough, coryza and conjunctivitis). Up to 90 percent of the individuals close to a person with the virus can become infected if they aren’t immune, according to the CDC.
In uncomplicated cases, people who get measles start to recover as soon as the rash appears and feel back to normal in about two to three weeks. But up to 40 percent of patients have complications from the virus.
People at high risk for severe illness and complications from measles include:
Infants and children aged <5 years
Adults aged >20 years
Pregnant women
People with compromised immune systems, such as from leukemia and HIV infection
Common complications from measles include otitis media, severe bronchitis and pneumonia, encephalitis, and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE).
Should you be vaccinated… (again)?
You should receive a measles vaccine unless you have evidence of immunity!
Acceptable evidence of immunity against measles includes at least one of the following:
written documentation of adequate vaccination:
one or more doses of a live measles-containing vaccine administered on or after the first birthday for preschool-age children and adults not at high risk
two doses of the live measles-containing vaccine for school-age children and adults at high risk, including college students, healthcare personnel, and international travelers
laboratory evidence of immunity (a blood test showing adequate titers of imunity)
laboratory confirmation of measles infection in the past
birth before 1957
Considerations . . .
For people with compromised immune systems, all family and other close contacts who are 12 months of age or older should receive two doses of the live MMR vaccine unless they have other evidence of measles immunity.
People who were vaccinated prior to 1968 with either activated (killed) measles vaccine or measles vaccine of unknown type should be revaccinated with at least one dose of live, attenuated measles vaccine (MMR).
A killed measles vaccine, which was available in 1963-1967 was not as effective.
People born before 1957 are likely to have been infected naturally and therefore are presumed to be protected against measles, mumps, and rubella.
However, if someone born before 1957 belongs to certain high-risk groups, they may need MMR vaccine or other proof of immunity.
Childbearing women who received adequate prenatal care within the last 25 years would have had a TORCH titer done which would have tested for measles mumps and rubella immunity.
If you have further questions, gather what documentation you can and schedule a consultation if you feel you may need to be vaccinated.