Posted on 05/15/2004 6:21:37 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch
McALLEN — The Texas Department of Health is asking that anyone who is traveling to Mexico be vaccinated for the measles now that the highly contagious infectious virus has made its way to Ciudad Acuña, a city on the Texas-Mexico border.
Ciudad Acuña is some 300 miles upriver from the McAllen-Hidalgo area, across the Rio Grande from Del Rio.
Mexico has recorded 64 measles cases this year and 44 last year.
Measles is one of the most contagious illnesses around, said Dr. Allison Abell, an epidemiologist for the Texas Department of Health in Harlingen.
It usually is spread through nose and throat droplets expelled when an infected person coughs or sneezes, according to TDH.
In the United States, the standard vaccine schedule calls for one dose of the vaccine between 12 and 15 months of age and a second dose between 4 and 6 years old, according to TDH.
But TDH is advising that any children between 6 and 11 months old who will be visiting Mexico to get their first dose of the vaccine now and then a second dose between 12 and 15 months of age. Then the child should receive a third dose between the age of 4 and 6.
The vaccine is not recommended for adults who have had the measles, have received two doses of the vaccine or were born before 1957.
Measles is a viral disease that starts with a fever, followed by cough, runny nose and conjunctivitis, or pink eye, according to the Centers for Disease Control Web site.
A rash will start on the face and spread down the body, fading after about five days, according to the CDC.
The complications of measles can be dangerous.
Between 6 and 20 percent of people who get the disease will get an ear infection, diarrhea or pneumonia. About one out of 1,000 people with measles will get inflammation of the brain and about the same number will die, according to CDC.
Mexican officials on Tuesday said that they would rush measles vaccinations to 16.5 million people across the country for fear of an epidemic, according to a Reuters report.
Measles outbreaks in the United States have occurred only rarely since the introduction of the measles vaccine that is required for people born after 1957.
People needing a measles vaccine should contact their local physician or the Hidalgo County Health Department at (956) 383-6221.
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Rachel Williamson covers health, environment and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach her at (956) 683-4428.
Wow - yet another way the illegals can enhance our diversity!
"Mexico-bound need measles vaccine"
...and their heads examined.
Actually, it is scheduled for manana. This gives the soon-to-be-infected folks a chance to put together the mordidas they'll be charged by all the medical techies at the various steps prior to actual injection.
Some public county hospitals in Texas will be asked to pay for the vacine and provide all the staff, however, with the arguments that (1) measels is a European disease so gringos should pay for the cure and (2) it would be cheaper than sending a million illegal river swimmers to the emergency wards of the hospitals.
Mexican aliens may save a couple of bucks for selected farmers but their over all cost to the American economy is and will be unbelievable.
Who requires this vaccination, the schools?
LOL. My, you're jaded, Tacis. ;^)
I have to go to Mexico a few times a year as part of my job. I was vaccinated against all measles varieties back in the '60's.
Do I need a booster shot?
In Texas, it would be the Texas Department of Health.
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/health/downloads/vacreqen.pdf
I don't see how Americans getting vaccinated to go over there will help much since anyone can come from Mexico never having received any vaccines. Measles is the least of it, they're bringing in far worse diseases like antibiotic resistent TB.
You might because the measles vaccine apparently wears off --- they had some cases here of kids coming down with measles who had been vaccinated --- but if your immunity is from an actual measles infection then you wouldn't need the vaccine.
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