Los Angeles County reported another case of measles that involves a resident or traveler this week, which led officials to renew their call to all residents to make sure they are updated on their vaccines.
The last case, the fourth so far this year, involves a visitor who recently reached the Los Angeles County from another country, according to the Department of Public Health of the County.
The measles patient was not infectious while traveling, health officials said, but some people may have been exposed to the virus in health centers. The authorities did not identify the specific sites, but said that health centers are directly contacting potentially exhibited patients and employees.
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases, and can easily spread on surfaces and air, remaining infectious for hours, just after a sick person has left the room.
Measles symptoms include a high fever above 101 degrees, cough, nasal secretion, red and aqueous eyes and an eruption, which usomically begins in the face and spreads the rest of the body.
“As the Los Angeles County residents begin to travel this summer, and with measles cases that increase among those who have recently traveled, we remind everyone that the best way to protect their family from infection is with the highly effective vaccine against measles,” said Dr. Muntu Davis, a county health officer, in a statement on Tuesday.
Health officials generally recommend that babies obtain their first measles vaccination when they are 12 to 15 months, followed by a second dose between 4 and 6 years.
But babies up to 6 months must have a measles vaccine before traveling international, and then they must obtain two more doses after their first birthday, according to the control and prevention of the US centers.
Having two doses of the measles vaccine is 97% effective against infection, health officials say.
Measles vaccination is required as an entry condition for schools in California and, at 1 years, in child care centers, although children can receive a medical exemption. State law allows parents to omit immunizations for children who are registered in independent study programs and do not receive instruction in the classroom.
Before a measles vaccine was available in 1963, the disease resulted in an estimated 400 to 500 deaths a year, as well as 48,000 hospitalizations, with 1,000 people suffering from brain swelling, says the CDC.
Two residents of the Los Angeles County have tested for measles this year, one that had recently returned from Texas, which is in the middle of a deadly outbreak, and another that had returned from Taiwan. A resident of the County not also gave them positive after reaching a flight from South Korea.
The United States is in the middle of one of its measles sausages in the last generation, with 935 cases already informed in National this year, according to the data of the CDC. About 38% of patients are between 5 and 19 years old and 30% are 4 years old and less.
Of those with confection of confirmed measles, 96% are not vaccinated or have an unknown vaccination state, according to CDC.
The last count of measles cases is already the second highest in 25 years, eclipsed only by the 1,274 cases reported throughout 2019.
Three confirmed measles deaths have been informed among children not vaccinated in school age in Texas who had no underlying medical conditions, and one in an adult not vaccinated in New Mexico, according to the morbidity and mortality of the CDC weekly.
Los Angeles County officials suggest that residents communicate with their medical care provider as soon as possible about possible measles exposure if they are pregnant or have a Wakened immune system, regardless of their immunization history. Medical care suppliers must also be contacted if the person exhibited is a baby or is not vaccinated.
“If the symptoms take place, remain at home and avoid school, work and any great meeting,” said the county in a statement. “Do not enter a medical care center before calling them and make them aware of their exposure and symptoms of measles.”
People can spread measles to others from four days before the revealing eruption of the disease appears for four days later, according to CDC. People who have not immune their legs against measles, either through vaccination or prior infection, run the risk of getting sick between seven and 21 days after exposure.
