With measles cases on the rise in Minnesota, you may be wondering what you as a parent need to know about measles. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) has put together a list of the most important facts about measles:
1. Measles can be serious.
Some people think of measles as a little rash and fever that clears up in a few days, but measles can cause serious health complications, especially in children younger than 5 years of age. For example, about 1 in 5 people in the U.S. who get measles will be hospitalized.
Common measles symptoms include high fever (may spike to more than 104° F), cough, runny nose, red, watery eyes, and rash (3-5 days after symptoms begin).
2. Measles is very contagious.
Measles spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It is so contagious that if one person has it, up to 9 out of 10 people around him or her will also become infected if they are not protected.
3. Your child can still get measles in the United States.
Measles was declared eliminated from the U.S. in 2000 thanks to a highly effective vaccination program. Eliminated means that the disease is no longer constantly present in this country. However, measles is still common in many parts of the world.
Even if your family does not travel overseas, you could come into contact with measles anywhere in your community. Every year, measles is brought into the U.S. by unvaccinated travelers (mostly Americans) who get measles while they are in other countries. Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk.
4. You have the power to protect your child against measles with a safe and effective vaccine.
The best protection against measles is the MMR vaccine. MMR vaccine provides long-lasting protection against all strains of measles.
Your child needs two doses of MMR vaccine for best protection:
- The first dose at 12 through 15 months of age.
- The second dose at 4 through 6 years of age.
If your family is traveling overseas, the vaccine recommendations are a little different:
- If your baby is 6 through 11 months old, they should receive 1 dose of MMR vaccine before leaving.
- If your child is 12 months of age or older, they will need 2 doses of MMR vaccine (separated by at least 28 days) before departure.
Learn more at cdc.gov/measles.
