(Taiwan English News/Comprehensive foreign report by Zhu Mingzhu) The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a measles warning last Friday (3rd). Institutes and people with relevant footprints are on alert.
The CDC stated that according to a report from the Kentucky Department of Health on February 24, a person with a history of overseas travel and who had not been vaccinated against measles was diagnosed with measles. After the epidemic investigation, it was found that the case not only had a history of overseas travel, but also went to a large religious gathering at Asbury University in the United States on February 17 and 18. It is understood that the participants came from other states and countries, with a total of about 20,000 people.
Due to the large number of participants, it is not ruled out that there are still people who have not been listed and are at risk of infection. CDD appealed through the official website of “Health Alert Network Advisory” (Health Alert Network Advisory), and participated in this large-scale event on February 17 and 18. People attending religious gatherings, regardless of whether they have been vaccinated against measles, should self-quarantine and monitor symptoms for 21 days after their last exposure to avoid spreading measles to others.
In addition, the CDC recommends that people who have not been fully vaccinated should be fully vaccinated as soon as possible after self-isolation, and calls on medical institutions to be more vigilant. If people seeking medical treatment develop measles-related symptoms, they should immediately report to the local health unit. Quickly carry out relevant inspections.
Measles is highly contagious and can be transmitted through the air, droplets or contact with nasopharyngeal secretions of patients. The incubation period is long. It takes about 21 days from the beginning of infection to the rash. The initial symptoms are easily confused with colds. Prodromal symptoms include fever , rhinitis, conjunctivitis (photophobia, watery eyes, red eyes), cough, etc.; a rash will appear 3 to 4 days after the prodromal symptoms, and more severe cases will be complicated by otitis media, pneumonia or encephalitis.
As for how to prevent the threat of measles? The CDC stated that the protective power of two full doses of the MMR vaccine can reach 97%, but to achieve herd immunity, the vaccine coverage must reach 95%. Vaccination is the most efficient and simple method of prevention, so the CDC urges the public to complete the vaccine as soon as possible. Receive 2 doses of MMR vaccine.
Due to the raging COVID-19 epidemic, measles vaccination coverage has declined. On November 23, 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a joint report warning that measles (Measles) The epidemic will be an “imminent threat” globally.
Measles explosion at religious gathering in Kentucky, USA threatened 20,000 participants from all states and countries
