As measles cases rise in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, with eight confirmed instances of the virus, Mecklenburg County Public Health is taking preemptive steps to avert a similar situation in their jurisdiction. They're stressing the critical importance of vaccinations, specifically the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine. The current outbreak has already led to the quarantine of over 150 unvaccinated children, a scenario that Mecklenburg County is keen to avoid.
Dr. Raynard Washington, Mecklenburg County Public Health director, underscores the urgency of the matter, "As our neighbors are dealing with a growing measles outbreak, it’s important for everyone in our community to take steps to protect health and prevent an outbreak here." He conveyed the message that in addition to parents ensuring their kids are vaccinated, "healthcare providers, schools and daycares need to know the signs and symptoms of measles to isolate potential cases early and prevent further spread," according to the official statement.
The risk, officials say, is not to be taken lightly. Measles is not just highly infectious but also poses serious health dangers. Data reflects that about 90% of unvaccinated individuals exposed to measles will contract it. Of those, nearly 20%—or one in five—will need hospital care in the U.S. Considering that, children are advised to receive two doses of MMR for the best coverage, with a 93% efficacy after the first dose, and 97% following the second.
For people at risk, the guidelines are strict. Unvaccinated children, or those who haven't had measles previously, could be kept out of school for up to three weeks or even longer, in the case of an exposure to measles. This measure aims to curb the virus's spread and safeguard public health. With the memory of a case confirmed in Mecklenburg last year being the first since 2018, and with this year's count growing beyond the 1,500 mark nationally, the advice is clear — if you spot symptoms, "call your doctor, clinic or emergency department right away," and importantly, before making a visit, the recommendation continues, call ahead to prevent possibly infecting others.
To facilitate access to the MMR vaccine, it is widely available at healthcare providers and retail pharmacies. Mecklenburg County goes further by offering the vaccine for free or at a low cost through the Mecklenburg County Public Health Immunization Clinic.
