Public Health Matters — The Measles
By Jeanna Kujava, Kittson County Public Health Director
Why now? Prior, to the onset of the 2019 COVID-19 Pandemic, children receiving their routine vaccinations according to the American Academy of Pediatrics schedule began to decline. That trend continued and was exasperated by the pandemic. The threshold for maintaining population immunity, or herd immunity, is around a 90% community vaccination rate. The community vaccination rate has fallen, and warning signalss began to sound in Minnesota notably about 16 months ago.
While not ready to face another circulating virus, and denial that an eradicated vaccine-preventable disease could return as a threat, a new reality could not be ignored. The reality that an outbreak is as close as our neighbors in Canada and North Dakota, there is no denying it.
The measles virus, much more contagious than the COVID-19 virus, moves easily from person to person and can remain suspended in the air for up to two hours.
What next? Prepare by knowing your vaccination status. If exposed to an active case of measles, your vaccination status helps determine your level of risk and next steps. Two weeks after receiving the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine, it is shown to be 93% effective. Two weeks after receiving a second MMR vaccine it is shown to be 97% effective. Individuals who had measles are immune and unable to get measles again.
Individuals vaccinated against measles are advised to monitor for symptoms of high fever of 104 degrees Fahrenheit, cough, runny nose, watery eyes and rash.
Unvaccinated individuals may require antibodies called immune globulin and require exclusion from work, school or childcare for a minimum of 21 days to prevent spread.
Complications are more common in children under 5 years of age and adults older than 20. Measles during pregnancy increases the risk of premature labor, miscarriage and low birth weight infants. Measles can be especially severe in persons whose immune systems are weak. A person with measles can pass it to others from four days before their rash appears to four days after it appears, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.
Adults who have not had measles or measles vaccine should receive one dose of MMR vaccine, particularly if they were born in 1957 or later. Students (including college students), health care workers and international travelers need to have received two doses of MMR vaccine, if they have not, they should get vaccinated.
Talk to your health care provider if you have questions about what vaccines you may need. Contact your healthcare provider before entering a healthcare facility to prevent potential spread. They will let you know if you need to come in for a visit.
Together, we can keep our community safe. Be Well!
For additional information, contact your primary healthcare provider or the Kittson County Public Health Department by phone 218-853-2497 or by email [email protected].
