What you should know
- The United States has already confirmed more measles cases this year than all of last year; New York, New Jersey and Long Island have reported cases and the CDC has issued a national warning.
- Unvaccinated people have a 90% chance of becoming infected if exposed. Measles is transmitted through direct contact with the nasal or throat secretions of infected people.
- People first develop a fever, then may have a cough, runny nose, and watery eyes, followed by a rash. They are considered infectious from four days before the rash appears until four days after it appears.
NEW YORK — The number of confirmed measles cases in the United States has nearly doubled in the past two weeks, eclipsing the total for all of last year, according to new CDC data released Thursday.
Cases have been reported in New York City, New Jersey and Long Island, although exact numbers are still under investigation. Nationally, the CDC reports 113 cases of measles as of April 4. Two weeks ago, the total was 64, which surpassed the 2023 total of 58 confirmed cases.
Measles is a highly contagious viral respiratory disease, and a CDC report released Thursday says cases in the first three months of 2024 were 17 times higher than the average number seen in the first three months of the last three years.
The alarming increase prompted a warning from the CDC last month, as well as an alert from the New York State Department of Health, regarding a case in Nassau County. Case reports continue to increase.
While health officials appear to be doing a good job detecting and responding to outbreaks, “the rapid increase in the number of reported measles cases during the first quarter of 2024 represents a new threat to elimination,” the authors of the study said. report.
The best way to prevent measles is to get vaccinated. People must receive two doses of the MMR vaccine to be fully protected. In New York State, the measles vaccine is required for children enrolled in schools, day care centers, and kindergartens. Since August 1990, college students must also demonstrate immunity from measles.
People are considered protected or immune from measles if they were born before 1957, have received two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, have had measles illness, or have a laboratory test confirming measles. immunity.
Unvaccinated people have a 90% chance of becoming infected if exposed. Measles is transmitted through direct contact with the nasal or throat secretions of infected people.
Anyone concerned they may have been exposed is encouraged to contact their healthcare provider, a local emergency department, or a local clinic before coming for care to reduce the risk of further exposure.
People first develop a fever, then may have a cough, runny nose, and watery eyes, followed by a rash. They are considered infectious from four days before the rash appears until four days after it appears. Symptoms usually appear 10 to 12 days after exposure, but can appear anywhere from seven days to 21 days after exposure.
Preventive treatment against measles is recommended for those without evidence of immunity as follows: MMR vaccine can be administered to eligible exposed persons within 72 hours of exposure or immunoglobulin can be administered within six days after exposure.
For additional information about measles, visit the New York Department of Health website here. Learn more about the vaccine here.
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2024-04-12 01:41:55
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