Latest news with #KarenLanders
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Alabama Dept. of Public Health reports no measles detected after investigation
COLUMBUS, Ga. () — The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) has determined that the unvaccinated person being investigated in Lee County, Alabama, does not have measles. The ADPH says that due to the extremely contagious risk of measles in unvaccinated people, they regularly launch investigations on suspected cases to ensure that vulnerable and potentially exposed people are informed and protected. 'This investigation began on Saturday afternoon. I appreciate the quick response of the ADPH on call team to ensure that all the response elements were in place, in order to protect Alabama.' ADPH Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Karen Landers said. 'While ADPH has determined that this is not a case of measles, I urge all Alabamians to be vigilant in ensuring that eligible persons are up to date on the MMR vaccine. The MMR vaccine is safe and effective. High rates of MMR vaccine in our state will protect our children, our families, and our citizens from this severe and deadly disease.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Alabama Department of Public Health determines there are no active measles cases in the state
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — Following an investigation of an unvaccinated person believed to have had the measles, the Alabama Department of Public Health has concluded that there are no active measles cases in the state. On Saturday, the ADPH began an investigation regarding a person in Lee County regarding a possible exposure to the measles. By Tuesday, PCR testing was reported as negative. 'Due to the extremely contagious risk of measles in unvaccinated persons, ADPH regularly launches preliminary investigations on suspected cases, while testing is in process, to ensure that vulnerable people are informed and protected,' the ADPH said on Facebook Tuesday. At the time, the unvaccinated person was reportedly too young to have received the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. 'While ADPH has determined that this is not a case of measles, I urge all Alabamians to be vigilant in ensuring that eligible persons are up to date on the MMR vaccine,' ADPH Chief Medical Officer Dr. Karen Landers said in the statement. 'The MMR vaccine is safe and effective. High rates of MMR vaccine in our state will protect our children, our families, and our citizens from this severe and deadly disease.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
ADPH reminds parents of importance of measles vaccine as cases rise in several states
(WHNT) — The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) sent out a message to remind parents of the importance of the measles vaccine as cases rise in several states. ADPH released a statement Tuesday saying that cases of measles are rising in several states such as Texas and Georgia for 2025 so far. Athens woman arrested after deadly hit-and-run on Highway 72 According to the department, if exposed and unvaccinated, you have a 90 percent chance of becoming infected. In addition to this, if you're infected, you can spread the disease for up to three weeks. For most children, ADPH said measles protection is part of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR), or measles-mumps-rubella-varicella vaccine, given when children are 12 to 15 months old and again when they are 4 to 6 years old. The first vaccine can be given to babies as young as 6 months of age if they will be traveling internationally. Vaccines are available at pediatricians' offices or county health departments. 'Getting the MMR vaccine is much safer than getting the measles disease,' the ADPH news release said. CLICK HERE for News 19's Interactive Radar 🌩️🌦️☔ ADPH said measles is a serious viral respiratory illness that lives in the nose and throat mucus. It spreads when people breathe in or have contact with someone who has been infected. The department said it can pass through droplets sprayed into the air when someone with measles sneezes or coughs. Symptoms usually appear 7-14 days later. ADPH Chief Medical Officer Dr. Karen Landers said, 'One of the main messages we want to emphasize is that measles follows a pattern in which the child first develops a fever, cough, runny nose, and watery/red eyes, then a rash develops. Persons can start spreading the virus up to four days before symptoms appear, and those with weak immune systems can spread the measles virus longer.' You can learn more about the measles vaccine on the ADPH's website here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
