For Immediate Release

From: Four Corners Health Department, serving Butler, Polk, Seward, and York Counties

Contact:  Vicki L. Duey, 402-362-2621 or toll free 877-337-3573

Date:  July 6, 2011

The “Shot” Is Better Than “The Spots”

Do you know if you and your family members are up to date on your measles vaccination?  Or, have you ever had the measles as a child?  Measles is a highly contagious disease that is caused by a virus.  It is spread by contact with an infected person through coughing and sneezing.  This illness can lead to serious complications and even death in some people.  It takes an average of 10-12 days from exposure to the first symptom, which is usually fever.  The “rash” doesn’t usually appear until approximately 14 days after exposure, or 2-3 days after the fever begins.  This disease can be transmitted from four days before the rash becomes visible to four days after the rash appears. 

Symptoms of measles include:

• Fever
• Runny Nose
• Cough
• Loss of appetite
• “Pink Eye”
• Rash - The rash usually lasts 5-6 days and begins at the hairline, moves to the face and upper neck, and proceeds down the body. 

Complications from measles are more common among very young children (younger than five years old) and adults (older than 20 years).  Approximately one out of one thousand cases will develop an inflammation of the brain (acute encephalitis).  This serious complication can lead to permanent brain damage. 

Measles during pregnancy increases the risk of premature labor, miscarriage, and low-birth weight infants.   Pregnant women should wait to get MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccine until after they have given birth.  Women should avoid getting pregnant for 4 weeks after receiving the MMR vaccine. 

Since measles is a virus, there is no specific treatment.  People with measles need bed rest, fluids, and control of fever.   To prevent this disease, there is a vaccine available.  The first dose of MMR vaccine should be given on or after a child’s first birthday (12 -15 months) and the second dose at 4-6 years of age.  These are the recommended ages.  But, children can get the second dose at any age, as long as it is at least 28 days after the first dose.  Some adults should also get MMR vaccine, unless they can show that they have had either the vaccines or the diseases.  Your health care provider can help determine if you should get the MMR vaccine. 

The United States is experiencing a high number of reported measles cases in 2011, many which were acquired during international travel.  Large outbreaks are occurring in other countries such as Europe, Africa, and Asia.  The increase in measles cases and outbreaks in the United States this year proves the need for ongoing, high measles vaccine coverage to prevent measles and its complications.  Of the cases reported in the United States to date, 89% of the patients affected were unvaccinated.  This year to date in Nebraska, there has been one case of measles. 

The Four Corners Health Department supports the recommendation of the MMR vaccine by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American College of Physicians (ACP).  For more information regarding measles or the MMR vaccine, contact Four Corners Health Department at 1-877-337-3573, or local @ 402-362-2621.  You can also email your questions to questions@fourcorners.ne.gov. 

Roll up your sleeve and do your part – protect yourself, your family, and everyone you come in contact with by making sure that your measles vaccine is up to date.  The “shot” really is better than the “spots”.