What’s the big deal about Measles? It’s not just a childhood rash. It’s a vaccine preventable disease that can cause pneumonia, encephalitis, and even death. People who have Measles are contagious for 4 days before the rash appears, and may expose family, friends, and community in that time.
The Minnesota Measles outbreak is being watched with great concern by many Wisconsin Health Departments. The Minnesota Department of Health has done an outstanding job of containing the outbreak, but it would surprise nobody if the disease skipped across the border into Wisconsin. Measles is one of the most contagious diseases. If a person with Measles walks into a clinic or hospital, everybody in that building from the time the patient enters through the next two hours is considered at risk.
If a child has Measles, EVERYONE that child has been in contact with who is not vaccinated against Measles (or immune from having had the disease) must be quarantined for two weeks. That means clinics, hospitals, daycares, schools, churches, grocery stores, movie theaters….wherever that child has been in the 4 days before the rash appeared. If MMR (Measles/Mumps/Rubella Vaccine) is given within 72 hours of exposure, the person will not have to be quarantined. However, by the time the child is diagnosed, and their movements for the 4 days preceding rash onset are tracked, it may be well past 72 hours. One case of Measles could result in many people being forced to lose two weeks of work or school. That can have a huge economic impact on a small community like Washburn County.
Signs of Measles include high fever, cough, runny nose, red, runny eyes, diarrhea, ear infection, with a rash that starts at the hairline occurring in 3-5 days. If your child has these symptoms, PLEASE LET YOUR MEDICAL PROVIDER KNOW AHEAD OF TIME, so that your child can be masked prior to entering the clinic or urgent care. Remember, if your child enters that clinic, everyone who is there may be exposed. Some people can’t get the MMR vaccine (immune compromised, pregnant, or under the age of 1 year) and Measles could be devastating to them.
The vaccine against Measles is safe and effective. Many parents have not immunized their children against Measles due to fears that it could cause Autism. There is no scientific evidence to support this. Do your child, yourself, and your community a favor and make sure your child is fully vaccinated. If you don’t have insurance that covers vaccines, please call the Washburn County Health Dept. at 715-635-4400 to schedule an appointment for your child to be vaccinated at no cost to you.
For reliable information about Measles and the MMR vaccine, visit:
http://www.immunize.or/catg.d/p4026.pdf
Last Update: Jun 09, 2017 10:22 am CDT
