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Closeup of a young boy with measles.
Kids & Family Health

Measles Cases Are Rising

Los Angeles County recently confirmed its first case of measles in four years. Measles, a highly contagious and potentially deadly disease, is most common in young children. 

The LA County case involved a local resident who contracted measles while overseas. The County Department of Public Health reported the person was “under-immunized” making them susceptible to the disease.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded at least 10 cases, including the one in California. Others were reported in Georgia, Missouri, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Most cases are the result of unvaccinated or under-vaccinated people traveling to countries with measles outbreaks, becoming exposed, and then spreading the disease here.

The U.S. is on pace for 120 cases this year — twice as many as 2023.

Easily Preventable

Measles has been effectively eliminated in the U.S. according to the World Health Organization (WHO) for nearly 20 years. That means there’s been no regularly occurring transmission of the virus. Any outbreaks are most often brought in from international travelers.

Most people in the U.S. are vaccinated against the measles, having received two doses of the measles-mumps-rueola (MMR) vaccine. It is part of the CDC’s routine immunization schedule.

It is also recommended that anyone traveling internationally check their immunization status before leaving the country.

Countries with recent measles outbreaks include the United Kingdom, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, and the Philippines.

A toddler boy with measles.

More Than a Rash

Measles is most dangerous for babies, young children, and people with compromised immune systems. Symptoms typically start seven to 14 days after infection. Look for:

  • High fever
  • Cough
  • Runny nose
  • Red watery eyes

White spots appear in the mouth two to three days after symptoms start. The rash comes three to five days after symptoms start. A fever could spike as high as 104 degrees Fahrenheit when this happens.

Potential Complications

Measles is miserable enough without the complications that could come with the virus. They include:

  • Ear infections — for one of every 10 children with measles
  • Diarrhea — for less than one of 10 people with measles
  • Hospitalization — for one in five unvaccinated people
  • Pneumonia — for one of 20 children. It’s the most common killer of young children.
  • Encephalitis — occurs in one child of every 1,000 with measles. It can lead to convulsions, deafness, or an intellectual disability.
  • Death — for one to three of every 1,000 children infected.
  • Pregnancy complications — for women who get measles include premature birth or low birth weight babies.

Free Vaccinations at AltaMed

You can always get a free MMR vaccine at any AltaMed clinic. Better yet, we encourage you to follow your child’s immunizations schedule into adolescence so they are protected during every stage of life. At AltaMed, all the vaccinations the CDC recommends are available free of cost! We provide childhood and adolescent immunizations for patients 0-17 years of age.

It’s more important than ever to stay safe and healthy. Call us at (888) 499-9303 to schedule an appointment with your provider to stay on track with your child’s immunization timeline. 

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Measles Cases Are Rising