Amador County – A 1-year-old Amador County girl became one of four toddlers to contract measles last month, prompting officials at the California Department of Public Health to remind parents about the importance of immunizations. “Measles is a childhood disease that has been virtually eliminated in the United States because of immunization,” said Dr. Mark Horton, director of the California Department of Public Health. “However, it could make a comeback in the U.S., as it did two decades ago, if immunization rates fall because some parents are reluctant to immunize their children.” The recently reported measles cases involved the now fully-recovered Amador County girl, a San Francisco County man, and a boy and a man in Santa Clara County. Officials say none of the four individuals had contact with one another, but three of the four had recent travel outside North America where most of the measles cases reported in the U.S. are contracted. Healthcare providers should remind patients who are traveling outside North America about the risk of measles and offer vaccine if appropriate, Horton said. Providers should also consider patients have possibly contracted measles if they have fever, rash, and have a history of recent travel outside North America. In 2008, a measles outbreak in San Diego affected 12 infants and children under age nine. Measles can be prevented with the MMR vaccine. During the last large measles resurgence in the United States, from 1989-1991, there were 17,000 reported cases and 70 deaths in California. Measles symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough and a rash all over the body. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about one out of 10 children with measles also develops an ear infection and up to one out of 20 develops pneumonia. For every 1,000 children who get measles, one or two will die. “Vaccination is a safe and effective way to protect your child and your community from measles,” Horton said. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. -
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Amador County – A 1-year-old Amador County girl became one of four toddlers to contract measles last month, prompting officials at the California Department of Public Health to remind parents about the importance of immunizations. “Measles is a childhood disease that has been virtually eliminated in the United States because of immunization,” said Dr. Mark Horton, director of the California Department of Public Health. “However, it could make a comeback in the U.S., as it did two decades ago, if immunization rates fall because some parents are reluctant to immunize their children.” The recently reported measles cases involved the now fully-recovered Amador County girl, a San Francisco County man, and a boy and a man in Santa Clara County. Officials say none of the four individuals had contact with one another, but three of the four had recent travel outside North America where most of the measles cases reported in the U.S. are contracted. Healthcare providers should remind patients who are traveling outside North America about the risk of measles and offer vaccine if appropriate, Horton said. Providers should also consider patients have possibly contracted measles if they have fever, rash, and have a history of recent travel outside North America. In 2008, a measles outbreak in San Diego affected 12 infants and children under age nine. Measles can be prevented with the MMR vaccine. During the last large measles resurgence in the United States, from 1989-1991, there were 17,000 reported cases and 70 deaths in California. Measles symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough and a rash all over the body. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about one out of 10 children with measles also develops an ear infection and up to one out of 20 develops pneumonia. For every 1,000 children who get measles, one or two will die. “Vaccination is a safe and effective way to protect your child and your community from measles,” Horton said. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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