In episode 51, we sit down with Nursing Director Carolyn Rose to discuss the recent Measles and Mumps outbreak occurring across the United States. At the time of this recording (May 2019), there were no recorded cases in Summit County. Several cases have occurred in Utah, however, and the health department encourages everyone to check their records for proper vaccinations or to get vaccinated if you have not done so yet.
From the Utah Department of Health:
What is the Utah Department of Health (UDOH) doing to prevent the spread of measles in Utah?
The UDOH is working with local health departments, school districts, hospitals, community partners, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ensure that all persons who have been exposed to measles are contacted and provided appropriate information about vaccination, exclusion, quarantine and medical care.
What should I do if I don’t know my vaccination status or I never had the MMR vaccine?
Individuals who may have been exposed to measles and have not been vaccinated should stay home (no work, church, shopping or recreational activities); specifically those who have been contacted by health officials and those students who were excluded from school due to lack of vaccination. The MMR vaccine may prevent disease if given with 72 hours of exposure to measles. Immune globulin (IG) may prevent or reduce severity of disease if given within six days of exposure. It is very important to follow the directions given by your healthcare provider and public health in order to protect your own health, and the health of those around you.
Where can I find information about my vaccination record or my child’s vaccination record?
Contact your healthcare provider to get information on your family’s immunization records. The Utah Immunization Information System (USIIS) is a state-wide immunization database that contains vaccination records of children and some adults. You may contact the Utah Immunization Program at 801-538-9450 or the Utah Immunization Hotline at 1-800-275-0659 to request a search for immunization records in USIIS.
What is measles?
Measles is a highly infectious respiratory disease caused by the measles virus.
What are the symptoms of measles?
Measles symptoms include rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. These symptoms usually appear within 7-18 days from exposure to an infected person and last about a week. The disease can also cause severe illness and complications, such as diarrhea, ear infections, pneumonia, encephalitis (brain infection), seizures, and death. These complications are more common among children under five years or age and adults over 20 years of age.
How is measles spread?
Measles spreads easily. When an infected person sneezes or coughs, droplets containing the virus spray into the air. Those droplets can land in other people’s noses or throats when they breathe or if they put their fingers in their mouth or nose after handling an infected surface. The measles virus can survive for two hours in air or on surfaces. It is also important to know that people with measles are infectious (can spread the disease) from four days before to four days after the rash appears. Thus, an infected person can spread the disease before knowing he or she is infected.
Who is at highest risk for getting measles?
People at highest risk are those who are unvaccinated, pregnant women, infants under six months of age, and those with weakened immune systems.
Can a person be a “carrier” of measles and spread it to others?
No. Persons exposed to measles must develop measles to spread it to others. Measles is spread by infected persons or from being exposed to a closed area after a person infected with measles occupied the area in the previous two hours. Once the infectious period is over, the person cannot infect other individuals.
