JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
As many are aware, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and State Health Departments are investigating a multi-state outbreak of measles linked to unvaccinated foreign travelers who visited a theme park in the United States. The outbreak started in December 2014 and is ongoing as the virus continues to spread.
As of Feb. 6, there have been 121 cases in 17 states and Washington D.C., with 103 of these cases linked to the theme park visit. Other cases were associated with travel outside of the United States, including the one case reported in Texas earlier this year.
Measles was listed as eradicated from the U.S. in 2000 due to the two-dose vaccination campaign, resulting in high population immunity. Even though it is listed as eradicated, every year unvaccinated travelers, both American and foreign visitors, bring the virus to the states. Anyone who is not protected is vulnerable, which may lead to an outbreak.
What is measles?
Measles is a highly contagious viral respiratory disease that can cause severe health complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis, deafness and death. Measles begins with a fever that can get very high, cough, runny nose and red eyes. This occurs two to four days before the rash develops. The rash generally begins at the head and spreads to the rest of the body. Other symptoms that may occur include diarrhea and ear infections.
How does it spread?
Measles is spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes, spreading the virus into the air. The person is contagious four days before the onset of the rash to four days after the rash appears. Even after an infected person leaves a location, the virus may remain viable for up to two hours on surfaces and in the air, increasing the number of people possibly exposed.
Who is most at risk for infection?
Anyone who has not previously contracted measles or received the Measles, mumps, rubella vaccine is susceptible, but children are especially prone to the severe complications. As such, the following are the most at risk: infants younger than 12 months who are too young to be vaccinated; children older than 12 months who have not had at least one MMR vaccination; children over four years who have not had a second MMR vaccination; and anyone who is immunocompromised and cannot receive the vaccine.
How do you prevent infection?
Vaccination with the MMR vaccine is the only sure way to prevent infection. The vaccine is both safe and effective. One dose is 93 percent effective while two doses are about 97 percent effective. While infected persons are isolated to prevent spread of the virus, it is so contagious, that if one person has it, 90 percent of the people around them will also become infected if they are not protected. Cases are often not identified until the rash appears and by then, the person has been infectious for up to four days.
Recommendations:
· All children should get two doses of MMR vaccine:
· First dose given at 12-15 months of age
· Second dose given at four to six years of age
· College students with no evidence of immunity should receive two doses of MMR vaccine
· Adults born during or after 1957 with no evidence of immunity should get at least one dose of MMR vaccine
· People six months and older who are traveling internationally should be vaccinated
· Isolation of suspected measles cases
· Exclusion of all non-vaccinated personnel and children from Air Force Child and Youth Programs for 21 days if there is a potential outbreak that has been documented by the medical community
The 359th Aerospace Medicine Squadron Public Health Flight reports there have been no reported cases in the San Antonio area and the situation is being actively monitored.
For additional information, visit the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/measles/index.html or the Texas Department of Health at http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/disease/measles.
For questions or concerns, call the 359th AMDS Public Health Flight at 652-1876 or the Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Child Development Center at 652-4946.