What to Do If You Have a Measles Outbreak Near You
This article was originally published on 02/09/2015. We are restoring it today in response to rising measles cases in the United States.
What is archaic, infectious, and often causing complications? That’s right, measles. At the time of this writing, the outbreak has affected at least 14 states . Here are the best ways to keep yourself safe if an infamous virus enters your area.
Don’t panic (too much)
While measles is a pretty dangerous thing for your state or your city, let’s not forget some numbers. There are more than 300 million people in the US, and even during a really serious outbreak, the number of cases is several hundred. This is because our vaccination rate is quite high: about 92% of children received at least one dose of measles vaccine .
You are at greater risk if you live with low vaccination coverage. You can call your children’s school or daycare center to find out what their vaccine policy is and if they can tell you what percentage of children have been exempted. However, not all schools have or will share this data. Unscientific, if you live close to Whole Foods , you can consider yourself a hotbed of anti-vax. I’m mostly kidding. It seems, as it were, something like.
Ask for an early vaccine
Infants should not receive measles, mumps and rubella vaccine until they are 12 months old, but children in high-risk situations (such as traveling to countries where measles is common) mayreceive an early dose at 6 months. … If you think your child is at high risk of contracting measles, ask your doctor if they are considering getting vaccinated at 6 months instead of 12.
But don’t forget yourself! If you haven’t had an MMR shot, or if you’re unsure , go ahead and roll up your sleeves. You don’t have to get into a high-risk situation, you can just go and have it anytime you want. (While you are doing this, consider getting a flu shot and booster vaccinations for diphtheria / tetanus / pertussis .) Pregnant women should not get the measles vaccine , so if you are thinking of pregnancy, get the vaccine now.
If you are exposed, obey the quarantine orders
If you have come into contact with a patient with measles, you will be told to stay at home. (If you will not hunt down, but you know that your friend measles, call your local health department, so he took up the matter.) That’s because you can start to transmit measles to others for four days before you a rash will indeed appear. During this time, you may feel good and breathe viral particles into the air without realizing it . Compare to Ebola, where quarantine doesn’t make sense because you can’t spread it if you don’t actually show symptoms. The average Ebola patient has transmitted the disease to only two other people. In the days before vaccination, the average person with measles is infected (did not get infected, but actually caused the disease) up to eighteen others . And yes, public health authorities can send you to quarantine or isolation by law .
Do not go to your doctor if you think you have measles. Instead, call and ask what to do. No one wants you to sit in the waiting room and breathe your measles bacteria into the same air that unvaccinated and immunocompromised babies will soon suck in. These viral particles can hang in the air for hours.
Also, don’t worry about vitamin A stores. Vitamins and homeopathy won’t help, despite some rumors among vaccine opponents that measles can be treated this way. Vitamin Aonly improves treatment if you were initially deficient and if you are reading this in the US it probably isn’t you .
Don’t go to the measles party
I’d like to take this for granted, but there are people out there who think that giving their children “natural” immunity to disease is a great idea … by allowing them to catch the disease. On purpose. Measles parties may have already started in California , but remember that measles is dangerous: 30 percent of children who get it go to the hospital. One in a thousand dies. Here’s what is much safer and still provides excellent immunity: the real vaccine.
The same advice applies to chickenpox parties , which unfortunately also take place. The chickenpox vaccine is safer than getting the real chickenpox. It’s also easier: a cartoon , an injection, a hug, you’re done. Don’t intentionally infect your child with the diseases we’re trying to eradicate, okay?
Don’t overdo it with your anti-Vaxxer friends
Of course they are wrong. But insults do not defeat arguments, and facts do not always change opinion . Remember, 92% of us vaccinate our children, and if you want to help keep that high rate, you need to set a good example for the people who are on the fence. If they find vaccine opponents amiable and vaccine advocates complacent and sarcastic, you are repelled.
Instead, especially if you are a parent, empathize. Talk to them about how you know you want to protect your children . Be prepared to dispel myths, but wait until they ask. Here’s a great explanation , but you’ll find your favorites. As measles outbreaks spread, the demand for vaccines increases, so it may only be a matter of time before joining your old-timers’ crowd.
Cover photo from Frederick Rossiter ‘s Health Practices Guide (illustrator not listed) via Sue Clark . Other photos by Mike Licht , Christina Rutz , NinaZed , Musicalwds , Tambako the Jaguar .