Agadari– The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is closely monitoring a concerning health situation in which more than a dozen states have reported cases of measles. As of March 14th, 58 cases have been reported in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York City, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington. Measles can be particularly dangerous for infants.
The signs and symptoms of measles typically include high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis). Around 3-5 days after the onset of symptoms, a rash typically develops on the face and then spreads to the neck, torso, arms, legs, and feet. Common complications of measles include diarrhea and ear infections.
Measles prevention is possible through the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine. The CDC recommends that children receive two doses of the MMR vaccine, with the first dose administered at 12 through 15 months of age and the second dose at 4 through 6 years of age. It is also important for teenagers and adults to stay up to date on their MMR vaccination.
Severe complications of measles in both adults and children can include hospitalization, pneumonia (which affects about 1 in 20 children with measles and is the most common cause of measles-related death in young children), encephalitis (swelling of the brain), which can lead to convulsions and permanent deafness or intellectual disability, and in some cases, death. Measles can also lead to complications during pregnancy, such as premature birth or low birth weight.
It is important to note that vaccinations for COVID-19 began being administered in the U.S. on December 14, 2020, just over a year after the virus was first identified in November 2019. The rapid development of these vaccines has raised many questions, from the logistical—how will I get vaccinated?—to the scientific—how do these vaccines work?