Vaccination is the Key to Preventing the Spread of Measles
3/9/2015
Measles, a highly contagious virus, is making a comeback. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that 102 cases of the measles in 14 states were diagnosed in January. The majority of these cases have been linked to a measles outbreak at an amusement park in California.
Although measles were eliminated in the United States in 2000, the CDC said that in 2014 the US experienced the greatest number of measles cases since being declared eliminated, with 644 cases in 27 states. The majority of these cases were in people who were not vaccinated.
Measles is still common in other countries and travelers with measles continue to bring the virus in the US. An outbreak can occur with the disease reaches a community where groups of people are unvaccinated. To prevent the spread of measles, the CDC recommends that every child receive a first dose of the measles vaccination (MMR) after reaching the age of 12 months. A second dose is recommended for 4- to 6- year-olds. Vaccination is also recommended for adults who do not have evidence of immunity to the measles.
About Northwest Healthcare
Northwest Healthcare is an integrated healthcare provider committed to delivering Tucson and
surrounding communities with high quality, accessible healthcare. Northwest Healthcare
includes Northwest Medical Center (NorthwestMedicalCenter.com), Oro Valley Hospital
(OroValleyHospital.com), six Northwest Urgent Care locations, The Women’s Center at
Northwest, Northwest Allied Physicians, Desert Cardiology and The Heart Center of Southern
Arizona.
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