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PINELLAS COUNTY, Florida – It's not just kids who need the measles vaccine. Health experts warn that people born between 1957 and 1989 may not be protected as much as expected by national epidemics.
People between the ages of 30 and 60 are more likely to get the virus because they received only one dose of the MMR vaccine. In 1989, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed their recommendations by asking people to be vaccinated twice instead of one. Those who have been vaccinated against measles but who have not received the second dose may not have enough anti-measles antibodies to protect them.
There is no outbreak in Florida. From January 2018 to date, the Florida Department of Health has only reported 11 confirmed cases. Pinellas County saw seven cases and Sarasota saw four.
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The CDC states that there are currently outbreaks in Rockland counties in New York and New York, Washington, Santa Cruz County in California, Butte County in California, New Jersey and Michigan. In Michigan, it is the largest epidemic since 1991. According to the CDC, the majority of people who have caught measles were not vaccinated.
The virus is so contagious that without being vaccinated, if only one person has it, they can infect 90% of their non-immune relatives. Symptoms usually begin within seven to 14 days of exposure. They may also appear 21 days later. Symptoms include high fever, runny nose, cough, marked rash, and tiny white spots in the mouth.
So what can you do? Know your status. If you have documents proving that you have received both doses, you are clear. If you are not sure, a simple blood test can check your immunity to measles. Doctors can test your blood for measles antibodies and see if you have enough to provide full vaccine protection.
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