Confirmed Measles Cases Increase

Measles Cases Top 100 Within 14 States

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Measles had been obsolete from this part of the world for quite some time, but it is now making a strong comeback with more than 100 cases diagnosed.

One of those cases hit close to home when a student from the University of Minnesota was diagnosed last week. 

A majority of those cases are linked to an ongoing outbreak that started in California’s Disneyland in December. 

A large percent of the people who had it were not vaccinated. 

Doctors say the reason it is spreading is simple: people have failed to get vaccinated.

Dr. Stephen Carlson from Essentia Health advises people who have come in contact with the disease, but aren’t immunized, to avoid going out in public. 

Dr. Carlson is urging people to not only vaccinate themselves once, but twice.

“The vaccine is very effective.  We give two.  We give one just after a year old and then we give one for the kindergarten physical at age five.  So, they have two on board.  And, that’s what the school expectation is,” Carlson said. 

The virus is airborne. 

Measles is one of those infections that starts mild. 

With common symptoms like a runny nose, cough and congestion, it’s hard for doctors to detect it early.

“The concern beyond that is that there can become a brain infection and that’s when it gets deadly,” said Carlson.

Last year, the nation had it’s highest number of measles cases in two decades with more than 600 reported. 

No deaths have been reported in connection with the outbreak this year.