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 Health & Beauty | May 2008 
Largest Measles Outbreak Since 2001 Hits
 Chicago Tribune
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| | A child is vaccinated against infectious diseases such as tetanus and measles in March 2008. Football fans risk being literally as "sick as a parrot" whether their teams win or lose at this summer's Euro 2008 games in Switzerland due to a measles epidemic, health authorities warned Wednesday. (AFP/Robin Utrecht) | | |
Federal health officials warned Thursday that the U.S. could be on the verge of a major outbreak of measles, a viral disease that had been declared wiped out in this country in 2000.
The official tally of measles cases between Jan. 1 and April 25 totaled 64, the highest number in six years, officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
Cases have been reported in nine states and outbreaks are ongoing in four others: Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan and New York.
Eight cases were reported earlier this week among members of a single family who attended a religious conference in Washington state, the CDC said.
No deaths have been reported.
Although the numbers seem small, two developments could set the stage for a major resurgence in this country: an increase in the numbers choosing not to get vaccinated and ongoing outbreaks of the disease in Israel and Europe.
Measles Vaccinations Urged After Outbreak
The Arizona Republic
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Arizona health officials are urging people to make sure their measles vaccinations are current after an outbreak in Pima County.
Seventeen cases have been confirmed in the southern Arizona county and more than 64 have been confirmed across the United States.
"The big trend is that they weren't vaccinated," said Michael Murphy, a spokesman for the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Officials said the outbreak in Pima County was started by an infected traveler from Switzerland.
"All it takes is one airplane ride to set off a chain reaction," said Dr. Karen Lewis, a medical director at the state health department.
Most of the cases have involved children younger than 1 and adults between the ages of 30 and 50 who had received only one measles, mumps and rubella immunization or none, Lewis said. Children under 1 are too young to get vaccinated against measles.
"We are worried about any spread of measles because it can cause serious complications," Lewis said. "Even healthy people die from measles."
Some parents have been reluctant to get vaccinations for their children.
"Parents hear incorrect information and do not immunize their children," Lewis said.
Gov. Janet Napolitano recently allocated $50,000 from the state's emergency health fund to combat the outbreak in Pima County and has declared April 19-26 to be Infant Immunization Awareness Week.
Measles is a highly contagious disease that is transmitted through the air. Symptoms include a high fever, runny nose and red eyes. After two to four days, red spots appear on the face and upper body. |
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