The Connecticut Department of Public Health reported two cases of measles in Fairfield County (in early April), while New York City reported 16 cases. So far, 51 cases of measles have been reported in the United States just this year. One Connecticut case was an adult with no record of being vaccinated, and the other was an infant too young to receive vaccine.
Outbreaks of measles in this country in recent years can be traced back to infections imported from other countries by an unimmunized person, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, primarily from a measles epidemic in Western Europe. However, vaccination programs help to keep widespread infection with the disease in check. In order to attend school in Connecticut, children have to be vaccinated, although parents can claim religious exemption. Some parents refuse vaccination because of a belief that vaccines cause autism, even though no link has ever been found.
Measles is a highly contagious disease spread through the air. Symptoms include fever, runny nose and watery eyes, cough, and a rash. The rash typically spreads from the head at the hairline to the trunk and the rest of the body. Possible complications can include ear infections and hearing loss, pneumonia, brain inflammation, and even death.
Before an effective vaccine for measles was developed in 1963, 3 to 4 million people would be infected with the disease each year. So even though incidence of the disease has risen in the past few years, it is still much lower because of vaccination programs. At least one dose of measles vaccine is recommended for anyone over 18 years of age born after 1956 if they do not have documentation of having the disease. RVNA offers a wide range of adult vaccinations for routine and travel protection; call 203-438-5555 for an appointment.
Theresa Santoro is the executive director of the Ridgefield Visiting Nurse Association, which provides this column to The Ridgefield Press.