Who needs to protect themselves from measles? Your questions answered.
Last week, I explained why it matters if the United States were to lose its status of having eliminated measles. That prompted many readers to ask what additional precautions they should take to protect themselves against the virus, which I wanted to answer here.
Several wanted to know if they should continue with planned trips. Mary from Maryland, who is 73 and has diabetes and asthma, told me she goes to a summer house on the New Jersey shore every year. 'My daughter warned me that there are cases in New Jersey,' she wrote. 'Should we rethink this trip? For your knowledge, I had measles as a child. I'm retired as a nurse, and my daughter and her kids are, of course, fully vaccinated.'
Travis, also from Maryland, has a new grandchild who is about to turn 3 months old. 'His parents had been planning to take [their baby] to Texas to meet the other set of grandparents,' he wrote. 'Where they live is in the 'hotzone,' with dozens of measles [cases] reported. Do you think they should cancel [the trip]?'
And Annie from California has been looking forward to a trip to Europe. 'I saw the new guidance from the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention],' she wrote, referring to agency's recent shift from recommending two doses of the measles vaccine for travelers to certain countries to recommending it for all international travelers. 'Please tell me I can still go visit my sister in Spain. It's my first international trip since the pandemic.'
I believe there are two key questions to assess the risk of measles while traveling. First, are there active outbreaks in the area you are visiting? The New Jersey Department of Health reports known ongoing community transmission in the state. It's recorded four measles cases: three in a single household, and another that is under investigation. State health officials continue to recommend that all eligible people receive the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, but measles is not a high concern there.
This is a similar situation to Spain. While sporadic measles cases have been reported in Spain, and infections across Europe have increased overall, endemic measles transmission stopped in Spain in 2014. The country achieved measles elimination status in 2017.
On the other hand, Texas is still experiencing an active and large outbreak. Since the beginning of the year, 762 people have been diagnosed with measles, of which 99 required hospitalization and two have died. If Travis's other grandparents live in one of the hardest-hit counties and the virus is actively transmitting there, the area is significantly riskier than New Jersey or Spain.
Second, do you and the people you are inquiring about have optimal immunity against measles? Mary had measles before, which gives her strong lifelong protection. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97 percent protective against measles infection, so her daughter and grandchildren should have good immunity as well. Combined with the low risk in New Jersey, that means Mary has no reason to change her travel plans.
Likewise, if Annie is fully vaccinated or has had measles before, she should have no issues going through with her Spain trip. The CDC issued its new guidance for international travelers in light of several cases associated with travel settings (for instance, six cases in Colorado linked to an international flight). Importantly, though, the agency is not advising people to forgo travel altogether. Annie should proceed as planned.
My advice is different for Travis. His grandson is too young to be vaccinated, and since his family would be staying in the area of the ongoing outbreak, they should discuss delaying the trip. The first dose of the MMR vaccine is normally given to infants between their first and second birthdays, but it can be given as early as 6 months of age. One dose conveys 93 percent protection against measles. His grandson could get the vaccine when he turns 6 months old and then travel a few weeks after that. (Infants who receive the first dose early should receive two additional MMR shots during early childhood for full protection.)
What about people who cannot receive the MMR vaccine? Janet from New York wrote that her husband has a severe immunodeficiency and is unable to obtain live vaccines, including MMR. 'How should we protect against measles? Do masks work?' she asked.
Yes. Measles is a highly contagious respiratory illness that can be transmitted through droplets and aerosols. The same protections that guard against covid, flu and other respiratory illnesses will help reduce the risk of contracting measles.
Janet's husband should wear a well-fitting N95 or equivalent mask while traveling and when in crowded public places. His close contacts should be fully vaccinated against measles. His risk of contracting this virus is probably still quite low given the relatively few cases in his area, but masking and additional precautions will guard against other diseases.
'Your newsletter said that even vaccinated people can get measles because of 'breakthrough infections,'' wrote Arthur from Germany. 'Why are you giving fuel to the fire of anti-vaxxers? They are going to use your piece and say, 'what's the point of getting vaccinated if you're just going to get measles anyway?''
I'm glad that Arthur raised this point. Very few therapies in the world are 100 percent effective. A 97 percent effectiveness rate is remarkable. Imagine if there were a vaccine that is 97 percent effective against cancer or diabetes! Yes, some vaccinated people can contract measles, but that likelihood is far lower compared to someone who is unvaccinated. Moreover, vaccination reduces the risk of severe illness if someone is infected.
To me, these are compelling reasons to strongly support the MMR vaccine. Acknowledging that breakthrough infections can occur is crucial because good medicine requires honesty and transparency. Physicians and health officials must clearly communicate both the benefits and the limitations of their recommendations. Failing to do so would give anti-vaccine activists grounds to accuse public health authorities of misrepresentation and deception, which surely would have far worse consequences for public trust.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Gizmodo
25 minutes ago
- Gizmodo
Restaurant Unknowingly Laces Pizza With THC, Doses Nearly 100 Customers
Dozens of restaurant goers in Wisconsin had the sort of meal you wouldn't ever forget. A recent case report details how they were accidentally fed food made with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary ingredient in cannabis responsible for getting you high. Local health officials described the sitcom-like shenanigans in a report published Thursday in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Nearly 100 customers ate the restaurant's THC-laced food in late October, some of whom visited the hospital as a result. The source of the 'outbreak' was eventually traced back to THC-infused cooking oil mistaken for ordinary canola oil. 'Clinicians and public health practitioners should be alert to the possibility of mass THC intoxication events via food,' the report authors, from Public Health Madison & Dane County, wrote. Animals Are Consuming More Alcohol Than We Realized According to the report, the trouble (or fun, depending on your perspective) began sometime on October 22. Over the next three days, at least 85 people between the ages of 1 and 91 became intoxicated shortly after eating at the restaurant, including seven people who were sent to a local hospital with symptoms like dizziness, sleepiness, and anxiety. One individual was advised to call Public Health Madison & Dane County; the person reported they had tested positive for THC without any known exposure and that they had eaten at the restaurant the day before, prompting further investigation. On October 24, officials contacted the restaurant's owner, who agreed to immediately shut the place down. That same day, the owner called back and reported that the restaurant was in a building with a cooperative (shared) kitchen used by another business that produced THC edibles derived from hemp. The owner also reported that on October 22, the restaurant ran out of its cooking oil and began using oil from the shared kitchen—which the owner assumed was simply canola oil—to make the dough for its pizzas, sandwiches, and other bread-filled goods. A large oil container in the same area where the borrowed oil was found was then tested and found positive for THC. Health officials brought in the local police for help, who determined that the restaurant's THC contamination was indeed an accident, and no criminal charges were filed against the owner or others. It also appears no one was seriously hurt as a result. After a thorough cleaning, the restaurant opened back up on October 26. Smoking Weed and Eating Edibles Share This Surprising Health Risk As funny as all this sounds, anyone who's mistakenly bitten into an edible or knows someone who has (ahem) can attest that it isn't always a picnic to deal with, even if the effects are ultimately temporary. The victims also included eight children, three who experienced vomiting and one who even developed hallucinations. Thankfully, none of them were hospitalized. The report authors say more should be done to prevent these sorts of incidents, given the rising popularity of THC and cannabis-centered businesses, especially if the businesses share space with restaurants. 'Regulations regarding practices such as standard, clear labeling and locked storage for ingredients containing THC, might decrease the risk for unintentional THC exposure at licensed food businesses,' they wrote. Personally, I'm just wondering if the incident lowered or boosted the restaurant's Yelp rating.


Time Business News
an hour ago
- Time Business News
Next-Gen Breakthroughs Transform Influenza Diagnostics
Influenza diagnostics refers to methods and devices that are used to detect influenza virus infections in individuals, including rapid antigen tests, molecular assays (such as RT-PCR), and immunoassays. The market for influenza diagnostics is increasing due to increasing global awareness about infectious diseases, increasing incidence of influenza and increasing outbreaks, increasing demand for rapid and accurate testing, increasing demand for progress in clinical technologies and further emphasis on the identity of initial diseases and the identity of early diseases by governments and healthcare organizations. Key Growth Drivers and Opportunities Global Awareness about Infectious Diseases: Global awareness about infectious diseases increases the demand for increasing, accurate, accurate and comprehensive testing. Recent experiences with epidemic such as public health campaigns, media coverage, and Covid-19 have increased the importance of the general population of viral transmission and timely diagnosis. As a result, the healthcare provider and the government are prioritizing investment in clinical infrastructure, rapid testing development and monitoring systems to prevent large -scale outbreaks. This awareness leads to maximum adoption of influenza diagnostic tools in hospitals, clinics, airports and even home settings, which promotes continuous market growth. Challenges Influenza diagnostics faces the high cost of advanced testing technologies in the market, low income and clinical equipment limited to clinical equipment in rural areas and the limits of variability in test accuracy-especially with antigen tests that may be false negative. Additionally, the seasonal nature of influenza may demand ups and downs, affecting continuous revenue creation and investment. Regulatory obstacles and skilled personnel need to be widely adopted to adopt molecular diagnosis. Innovation and Expansion Quest Diagnostics Gets CDC Contracts to Create Oropouche Virus and H5 Avian Flu Tests In October 2024, leading diagnostic information services provider Quest Diagnostics announced that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded it multiple contracts to support testing and ongoing laboratory readiness for two newly discovered infectious diseases in the Americas. By guaranteeing that a national commercial laboratory provider may promptly augment public health laboratories in the case of an infectious disease epidemic in humans, the agreements will enhance the country's readiness for avian influenza and Oropouche viruses. The FDA Approves the First Over-the-Counter Flu and COVID-19 Test at Home In February 2023, the first over-the-counter (OTC) at-home diagnostic test that can distinguish and identify influenza A and B, sometimes referred to as the flu, and SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, was granted an emergency use authorization (EUA) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. A single-use at-home test kit, the Lucira COVID-19 & Flu Home Test yields findings from self-collected nose swab samples in around half an hour. A single-use test for those exhibiting symptoms and indicators typical of a respiratory tract infection, including COVID-19, is the Lucira COVID-19 & Flu Home Test. The test is available without a prescription and may be done entirely at home with nose swab samples that people 14 years of age or older self-collect. Inventive Sparks, Expanding Markets Investing in major development strategies for influenza diagnostics manufacturers, investing rapidly and in multiplex test technologies, expanding at home and point-of-care test offerings, forming partnership with healthcare providers and governments, securing regulatory approval quickly and strengthening the global distribution network-in special emergence markets. About Author: Prophecy is a specialized market research, analytics, marketing and business strategy, and solutions company that offer strategic and tactical support to clients for making well-informed business decisions and to identify and achieve high value opportunities in the target business area. Also, we help our client to address business challenges and provide best possible solutions to overcome them and transform their business. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
VCU toxicologist: ‘No vape is safe'
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — The trend of vaping use has picked up speed across the United States, particularly among young adults. But as cool as the smoking devices appear, Virginia Commonwealth University Forensic Toxicologist Dr. Michelle Peace says the e-cigarettes are doing more harm than good. Her candid message — no vape is safe. She has discovered in her research that 95% of all compounds in vape products are not safe to inhale. 'The framework exists for protecting the consumer,' Peace said. 'So enforcement really needs to happen full throttle. Probably just as important is education, as misinformation about vaping is rampant.' It's been her mission to expose the hidden toxic chemicals, as most users are in the dark about what they're actually inhaling. 'The primary compounds that make up a vape liquid are propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin,' she said. 'There are compounds such as ethyl acetate that are used as a flavoring chemical.' Ethyl acetate is also used in fingernail polish remover. 'So there are compounds that are used as industrial solvents to clean equipment and brakes, and the food industry uses them as a solvent for flavoring chemicals. That doesn't mean that they're safe to inhale.' So far, the has authorized 39 tobacco and menthol flavored e-cigarette products, though she says there are too many that are unregulated and without quality testing. 'We have found that the products that are authorized by the Food and Drug Administration do have significantly fewer chemicals in them,' she said, 'where, in an unauthorized product, we might find 15 to 20 different chemicals. And then, in an authorized product, we might find five or six. That's significantly less. But nonetheless, there's still chemicals that can harm people and their tissue.' Users can develop a hacking cough, dried out lung tissue or even worse. 'There are some really interesting studies that are coming out that demonstrate that vaping is changing your DNA,' she said. 'There's an indication that maybe your body is 13 years older than a non vapor. Through a project funded by the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth, vapes are confiscated on school campuses in the Commonwealth and sent to VCU for testing. For those indirectly inhaling vapes, there's still a second-hand risk. And the bigger issue, according to Peace, is many people are using vapes to consume other drugs. has reported more than 2,800 vaping hospitalizations nationwide. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword