Watch out for Measles

Measles outbreaks in other countries are spreading to the U.S. Doctors at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say there have been 89 reported cases of measles in the U.S. already this year. In a typical year, the U.S. will only see about 50 cases total. Doctors say measles is one of the most contagious vaccine preventable diseases. So if you haven't taken the time to get your kids vaccinated because you're too busy.. this may the time to do it!

So what are the symptoms of the measles?

Fever
Runny nose
Dry cough
Skin rash of large blotches
White spots in the mouth

Here's more on this story from FROM YAHOO NEWS:

I broke out in some sort of hives or rash or something today. Now I think I am paranoid it's the measles. Yikes! I mean I doubt it, but it is certainly coincidental that I ran into this story today!

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

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Measles cases on the rise

The local paper where I live posted a story by the Associated Press that says measles cases are on the rise. A NewsAnchorMom.com reader pointed to this article as to why she would not delay or refuse to give her child immunization shots.

Here's the story on the Journal Star's website:

The number of measles cases in the U.S. is at its highest level since 1997, and nearly half of those involve children whose parents rejected vaccination, government health officials reported Thursday. The number of cases is still small, just 131, but that's just for the first seven months of the year and doctors are troubled by the trend.

There were only 42 cases for all of last year. "We're seeing a lot more spread. That is concerning to us," said Dr. Jane Seward, of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pediatricians are frustrated, saying they are having to spend more time convincing parents the shot is safe. "This year, we certainly have had parents asking more questions," said Dr. Ari Brown, an Austin, Texas, physician who is a spokeswoman for the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The CDC's review found that a number of cases involved home-schooled children not required to have the vaccines. Measles, best known for a red skin rash, is a potentially deadly, highly infectious virus that spreads through contact with a sneezing, coughing, infected person.

It is no longer endemic to the United States, but every year some Americans pick it up while traveling abroad and bring it home. Measles epidemics have exploded in Israel, Switzerland and some other countries. But high U.S. childhood vaccination rates have prevented major outbreaks here. In a typical year, only one outbreak occurs in the United States, infecting perhaps 10 to 20 people.

So far this year through July 30 the country has seen seven outbreaks, including one in Illinois with 30 cases, said Seward, deputy director of the CDC's Division of Viral Diseases. None of the 131 patients died, but 15 were hospitalized.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

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