Posted on 05/24/2011 1:37:10 PM PDT by Keith in Iowa
A confirmed case of measles has occurred in a Dallas County resident. This situation is being treated as a public health emergency because measles spreads easily and can cause serious illness and death.
Local public health officials in Dallas and Polk counties are working with the Iowa Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) to determine who this individual may have exposed to measles and are at risk of becoming ill.
Any individuals who visited the following locations at the listed times should check to make sure they have received two MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccines. Those older than their mid-50s and know that they had measles as a child do not need to be vaccinated. If you have been at these places during these times and have not received two doses of MMR (or are not sure if you have received two MMRs), you should contact your county health department or health care provider to be vaccinated.
May 11
American Airlines Flight AA3965
Departed Chicago O’Hare: 11:55 a.m.
Arrived Des Moines International Airport: 1:05 p.m.
Des Moines International Airport - main terminal and baggage area
1:00 to 3:45 p.m.
May 14
Mercy Central Pediatric Clinic
330 Laurel St, Ste 2100, Des Moines Iowa
10:00 a.m. to close (offices closed at 2:00 p.m.)
Mercy Medical Center - Main Entrance, including waiting room, registration, outpatient testing and blood draw station areas
1111 6th Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa
Noon to 3:00 p.m.
The symptoms of measles include any or all of the following: fever, cough, red/pink eyes, runny nose and a rash. Anyone, regardless of age, who has not had measles or has not adequately responded to two doses of MMR (less than one percent), can get measles if exposed. Measles can cause serious illness, pneumonia, deafness, and brain inflammation. Two to three people out of 1,000 who get measles die from the disease. It is easily spread through the air and there is no treatment for the illness, so prevention is critical.
If you were at the places during the times listed above and have any symptoms consistent with measles, call your health care provider immediately and arrange to be seen safely. Do not go to the doctor’s office, ER, local public health agency, or a walk-in clinic until arrangements are made to be seen by your health care provider in a place and manner that will not potentially expose others to measles. Until arrangements are made, stay home; do not go into any public places.
“All Iowans should check their personal and family immunization records to make sure their measles vaccinations are up-to-date,” said IDPH Medical Director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk. “To be fully vaccinated, an individual should have had two doses of the measles vaccine, or have had measles in the past.”
I remember when we wanted to get measles so we would have LIFELONG immunity. Instead now we treat it like the plague and give “shots” that wear off and expose adults to it...
What is the big deal with measles? We had measles when I was a kid, and it was not a societal crisis. Why the hysteria nowadays?
Porous borders with third world countries does have consequences other than jobs and entitlements. This might not be the case here, but its a very good chance it was.
Neither was chickenpox, but from what I understand some of these viruses have mutated into more severe strains than many of us old timers remember.
>>>What is the big deal with measles? We had measles when I was a kid, and it was not a societal crisis. Why the hysteria nowadays?
From the DPH Notice: “This situation is being treated as a public health emergency because measles spreads easily and can cause serious illness and death.”
A single case of measles is a health emergency? Wow. When I was a kid, measles was just one more right of passage as you were growing up.
A single case of measles is a health emergency? Wow. When I was a kid, measles was just one more right of passage as you were growing up.
We homeschoolers have chickenpox parties to expose our kids. There is no mutation. Same pox as I had.
Yes. Because measles is highly contagious. Would you prefer they had said nothing until there was a death or two, and thousands sick?
We vaccinate for measles because there are people out there who cannot receive the shots who would die from measles, besides those who would just get complications from it. Herd immunity protects them.
“what is the big deal with measles?”
According to the article it spreads like wild fire, there is no cure or treatment, and one in a thousand will die from it. Doesn’t sound fun to me. Prevention is extremely important with this illness.
Yep, back in the day the serious side effects of measles were so rare that parents didn't give them another thought. If you contracted measles(and all the kids I knew did, including me and my brother)mom would slap you in bed until you were over them and then tell you that you would never get them again. I knew literally hundreds of kids who had measles(back in the 1940s and '50s)and not one of them died, went deaf or went blind.
You were lucky, I almost died and was in a coma for a month. My SIL became legally blind.
Media getting in on the act:
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20110524/NEWS/110524019/Measles-case-confirmed-in-central-Iowa-emergency-declared
http://www.kcci.com/news/28008737/detail.html
I know a young couple who homeschool their children and don’t vaccinate. The husband was just getting a fledgling business started when the kids got chicken pox, he got it from them and almost died. He was extremely sick for 6 weeks and lost his business and all the money he had invested.
There are often life-long problems with the chicken pox virus. I had them as a child and I did fine, 2 of my grandchildren had them and scarred terribly.
My mother had measles as a 40 year old, years after we had all had them and she cared for us, believe me, she was one sick puppy.
Life is fatal.
“When I was a kid, measles was just one more right of passage as you were growing up.”
Yeah,,, but they quarantined your house, right? They did mine in 52 or 53. My Sister and I both got it. Then my Sister got the mumps, and I had to stay in her room all day, and play with the little brat. Never did catch the mumps.
Yes, but I don’t lay down in the middle of the freeway either.
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