DuPage County health department officials warn people to be aware of the new measles case, wanting to inform them of the first case in 13 years in the county. The case is a person who is not vaccinated and who is being identified by public health staff him/her. This scenario is a move in the direction of nationwide increment in the cases of measles outlining how important immunization is for both individual and communal health.
Measles Case Confirmed in DuPage County
The DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) informed us of the measles patient who was confirmed on [DATE]. The person of the age and name not known for the purpose of protecting personal privacy is now isolated from the patients considered at high-risk virus. Public health authorities are conducting a detailed probe to pinpoint the close contacts of a person during the transmission period over the incubation period. This entails sitting down with the patient and question him regarding whereabouts and activities where he will most likely be contagious.
Measles is a respiratory illness that spreads with great effectiveness and can cause severe consequences such as pneumonia, encephalitis (swelling of brain), and even death. Usually the symptoms begin to show in about 7-14 days after the contact with the infected person. The most common symptoms of the disease are fever, running nose, red and watery eyes, and a red and blotchy rash on the face and body.
Public Health Officials Urge Vaccination
It is DCHD’s recommendation for all residents to make sure they are vaccinated against measles. Measles is a preventable condition, and the vaccination is the most important and efficient method of guarding from it both you and your neighbors. The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is an exemplary vaccine that is safe and up to 97% effective. Two MMR voaccines injections are 97% effective against the disease.
Public health care professionals have stressed on the need for unvaccinated persons since they are at a higher risk of getting the disease. Thus, it refers to infants, who are too young for vaccination (vaccination is usually started around 12 months old) the unvaccinated at any point in time and people whose immune system is compromised.
Local health board (DCHD) declares free MMR vaccination for those who are uninsured or under-insured at clinics. They also collaborating with healthcare providers in all over the county to ensure almost everywhere the vaccine is available.
Importance of Community Immunity
Inoculation is very effective for the individual and not only his but also community immunity as well. _Herd immunity is a situation that is [enacted] i.e. [A high enough percentage of a population is vaccinated, stopping the quick transmission of the virus.] ? They are then safeguarded through these shots, unlike the small ones who may not be getting their own ones.
The current epidemic of measles in DuPage Country shows us how keeping high vaccination rates is a strategic task. It is most likely that they found so many cases of measles occurrence in communities with less than the recommended vaccination coverage. Our public health experts state that people shouldn’t just get the vaccine for their own well-being, but for the good of the community in general.
Steps to Take to Prevent Measles
Here are some steps you can take to prevent measles:
- Make sure that you makr your family be up-to-date on MMR vaccines. If you are in doubt of your vaccination status, do have a talk with your doctor or local public health agency.
- Should you see any symptoms of measles, it is important that you remain at home and get hold of your physician immediately.
- Try to prevent physical interactions with other persons particularly those at increased risk like infants and pregnant women.
- Being mindful of proper handwashing is the first step to protecting yourself against getting a disease. Wash your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based sanitizer.
Applying the guidelines suggested above, you are contributing toward the prevention of measles and thus ensuring you and your families’ health.
DuPage County Health Department Resources
The DuPage County Health Department shall act as a source of information and also the vaccination for the measles. undefined
- Website: DuPage County Department of Health Website: https://www.dupagehealth.org/
- Clinics: Information about the clinics and their locations and hours are available on the district’s health department website.
Informing the public and implementing this prophylactic measures are extremely important to the fight against measles. By working together, we can ensure a healthy community for everyone in DuPage County.