[ad_1]
At the end of September 2018, an international traveler arrived in Rockland County with a suspected case of measles.
New cases of measles have been reported by international travelers in Rockland, exposing more people to measles. Unvaccinated people are at risk of contracting measles and passing it on to other people.
These cases are currently clustered in eastern Ramapo (New Square, Spring Valley, Monsey). However, due to the small size of the geographic area of Rockland County, it is possible that measles will be exposed throughout the county.
As of November 9, 2018, 55 reported cases have been confirmed in Rockland County.
Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert, a member of the Rockland County Executive Board, told residents that the Ministry of Health is increasing school exclusions from the current vaccination rate of between 70% and 80%. This will affect more schools, which means that more students will have to stay home and will not be able to go to school.
ALL schools in New Square Village and all schools with a vaccination rate of less than 80% in the geographic area affected by the measles epidemic (Spring Valley, Monsey) will be required to keep students unvaccinated or under -vaccinated until home until 21 years old. days have passed since the last confirmed case of measles in Rockland. This is a lower rate than the initial school exclusion, which required schools with a vaccination rate of less than 70% to keep an under-vaccinated or under-vaccinated student until 21 days after the last one. measles case confirmed in Rockland.
"We continue to encourage all participants to become familiar with the MMR vaccine to protect them from future exposure to measles in Rockland." Measles is very contagious. Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk of contracting the disease and can transmit measles to people who can not be vaccinated because they are too young or have specific health problems, "he said. Dr. Ruppert.
A person is considered to be protected or immunized against measles if they have had measles confirmed by their doctor or provider or if they have had a laboratory test confirming their immunity. Those born before 1957 and those who received two doses of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR) are also considered immunized. However, there is very little chance that in this outbreak, they still contract measles, but much less serious. case and much less likely to spread to others.
If you are not sure of being immunized against measles, contact your health care provider. In general, all persons four years of age and older require two doses of MMR vaccine, unless there are contraindications (medical reasons not to be vaccinated). Two doses of MMR vaccine can provide 97% protection against measles. As a general rule, the first dose of MMR vaccine should be given between 12 and 15 months and the second dose between four and six years (age of school entry), although individuals can also be vaccinated later in life.
However, due to a measles outbreak in Rockland County, the Rockland County Health Department is currently recommending that children aged 6 to 11 months receive a MMR vaccine now. They will still have to be vaccinated at the age of 12-15 months and then at the age of 4 to 6 years. However, receiving a MMR vaccine now will help protect them against measles. Therefore, any child 6 months of age or older or any adult who has not yet received their first MMR vaccine should do so now.
In addition, children aged 1 to 3 who have already received their first MMR vaccine should now receive a second MMR vaccine, as it has been 28 days since the first MMR vaccine was given. This second MMR vaccine will count for entry to school. In the state of New York, measles immunization is mandatory for children enrolled in schools, daycares and kindergartens. Since August 1990, students are also required to demonstrate immunity against measles.
Source link
