Latest news with #MeaslesMumps
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
What to do if exposed to measles at Denver Health Emergency Department
Denver (KDVR) — Health officials are now reaching out to people who were at the Denver Health Emergency Department on Sunday, April 6th, between 10:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to let them know they may have been exposed to measles and to assess their risk for contracting the disease. A child was diagnosed there Sunday, but did not need to be hospitalized. Denver Department of Public Health and Environment says the patient is under the age of one, was not vaccinated and had recently traveled to Chihuahua, Mexico, where there is an ongoing measles outbreak. 3rd measles case confirmed in Colorado; here's where you could have been exposed Courtney Ronner with the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment says the department has activated its operations center to assist with the case. 'Approximately 100 patients were in the ER during that exposure window. So, what we are doing is we are contacting all of those folks, as well as other people who may have been in the ER to assess their exposure risks,' Ronner said. People who may have been exposed should watch for symptoms for the next 21 days. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and then three to five days later a rash that starts on the head and works its way down the body. Dr. Bob Belknap, the Executive Director of the Public Health Institute at Denver Health, says measles is transmitted through the air, and can stay in the air for two hours. He says the facility conducted a thorough cleaning and he does not want families to avoid healthcare out of fear. 'The risk of getting exposed to measles in Colorado and in a health care setting is extremely low,' Dr. Belknap said. But if you suspect measles, the doctor says you should call ahead so the provider can take precautions to prevent additional exposure. Children typically don't get their first dose of Measles Mumps and Rubella vaccine until they are 12 to 15 months old. State Epidemiologist Dr. Rachel Herlihy says this shows the risk of travel. 'If you are really thinking about going to a place where there are ongoing outbreaks, I think it is important to reconsider whether now is the time to travel if you are unvaccinated or your children are too young to be routinely vaccinated for measles,' Herlihy said. The doctor says if needed, you can talk to your provider about getting an early dose of the MMR vaccine for a child that is 6 to 11 months old, but that is not preferred. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBC
02-04-2025
- Health
- CBC
Doctors say some Sask. adults need measles booster shots
Saskatchewan adults might not have sufficient immunity to the latest measles outbreak and are being asked to check their vaccination records and get a booster shot if needed. Cases of measles, which is highly contagious and can lead to serious complications, have been on the rise across Canada recently and there were three cases in Saskatchewan in March. Although the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is recommending people check their vaccination records, there is one catch — the SHA doesn't have childhood immunization records for anyone prior to 1978. "It can be really confusing if you don't have access to those records," said Ryan Meili, a family doctor practicing in Saskatoon. "Maybe you have a history of being told when you were a kid you had measles, but it was never documented." Booster shots Anyone born between 1970 and 1996 needs a booster shot to be fully protected against measles, according to guidance Meili said the SHA has given doctors. That's because the protocol during those years was for just one dose of the vaccine and Meili said studies have shown two doses, the standard since 1996, provides better protection against catching and spreading the virus. "The first dose did decrease the transmission. But then getting that second dose into the schedule really did the trick," Meili said. Joseph Blondeau, head of Clinical Microbiology at Saskatoon's Royal University Hospital and provincial lead for clinical microbiology with the SHA, said parents should also make sure their children are up to date on their vaccinations. According to the province, only 75.5 per cent of Saskatchewan children received both recommended doses of the Measles Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine by their second birthday in 2024. Blondeau said that number should be closer to 97 per cent to achieve herd immunity, which is when enough of the population is either vaccinated or has acquired immunity to prevent disease spread. "Measles is a highly, highly, highly contagious virus," Blondeau said. "If you've not been immunized, the recommendation is for two doses. If you're partially immunized, the recommendation is for a single boost." Who doesn't need a booster? Anyone born before 1970 is considered immune. That's because measles infections were so widespread prior to public vaccination programs, that anyone alive prior to 1970 is presumed to have caught the disease and acquired lifetime immunity. But there's a caveat. Blondeau said current Government of Canada guidelines recommend people born prior to 1970, but in a high risk group, including health-care workers or people travelling internationally, might need a booster shot. People in that age and risk group should talk to their family doctor about getting a booster shot or getting blood work done to check for immunity, Blondeau said. Those same older adults should also look into their immunity now that Saskatchewan has three confirmed cases of measles, Blondeau said. Anyone with documented proof of either contracting measles, or receiving two doses of the MMR vaccine doesn't need a booster shot. "If you have clear evidence that you had measles and that's documented somewhere, you have lifelong immunity," Blondeau said. Childhood immunization records Blondeau said people can check with their family doctor to see if their childhood immunization records are available. The SHA also has links for people in different areas of the province to request childhood immunization records. However the SHA doesn't have records for anyone born prior to 1978. "It is a little unclear what exactly the SHA is recommending in that case if there are no records. But the general response would be to give that first dose in the absence of any records," Meili said. For those with no records, Blondeau said there is no harm in getting the MMR vaccine even if you had measles as a child, or might have already had two doses. The SHA provides the MMR vaccine free of charge to Saskatchewan residents who haven't received both shots, or who need to boost their immunity according to SHA guidance. "These vaccines are incredibly safe," Blondeau said. Who should check for immunity? Blondeau said that's a conversation people can have with their doctor. And it's one he recently had to consider when travelling out of the country. Blondeau said his wife's childhood vaccination status and immunity weren't clear. Despite his expertise in the area, Blondeau said they decided to take the advice of their health-care provider, who suggested getting the booster shot instead of checking for immunity through blood work. "We just phoned and asked for an opinion. We just followed the recommendation." What is measles? Measles is a highly infectious virus that is spread through the air. Symptoms generally include fever, runny nose, rash and cough, but can lead to severe complications including respiratory failure and swelling of the brain. In the most severe cases, measles can lead to death. It was declared that measles had been eliminated from Canada in 1998 due to the success of public immunization programs. However, declining vaccination rates have resulted in a resurgence of the disease.
