St. Paul, MN (KROC-AM News) – The Minnesota Department of Health is reporting that ten new cases of measles have been confirmed this week.
The new cases bring the total number of measles infections in Minnesota this year to 18. State health officials are urging families to make sure everyone is up to date on their immunizations, especially if they have travel plans.
Unvaccinated People Account for All New Infections
A news release says seven of the cases confirmed this week involved families who had recently traveled within the U.S. and were related to three other cases reported last week. In addition, there were three other unrelated measles cases this week that were tied to international travel.
All ten cases were found in the Twin Cities area and involved unvaccinated people.
“The significant increase in measles cases around the U.S. this year, and the fact that measles is still very prevalent in other countries, continues to highlight the urgency for families to make sure their children are up to date on their measles immunizations,” said Myra Kunas, assistant commissioner for MDH’s Health Protection Bureau. “Measles is one of the most infectious diseases on the planet. It spreads easily, and it finds those who are not vaccinated.”
CDC Reports Highest Measles Numbers Since 1992
Nationwide, the state health department says the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed more than 1,500 cases. That is the highest total since 1992, when there were 2,126 cases across the U.S.
The highly contagious disease is blamed for three deaths in the United States this year.
It is recommended that children receive their first vaccine dose against measles between 12 and 15 months of age, followed by a second dose when they are 4 to 6 years old. The Minnesota Department of Health’s news release says children between the ages of 6 and 12 months could be eligible for the vaccine if they have travel plans that could put them at high risk for measles.
The initial symptoms of infection include fever, cough, runny nose, and watery eyes, followed by a rash that typically spreads from the head to the rest of the body. The health department says it generally takes 8 to 12 days from exposure to develop the first symptoms, and the rash usually appears 2 to 3 days after fever symptoms show up.
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