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A topic on the collective minds of people in the United States is the current outbreak of the measles, said to be the largest since 1994. The virus has now arrived in Iowa, with two confirmed cases in the northeastern part of the state.
Dallas County Public Health Nurse Rhonda Shoafstall says many people might not realize how serious measles is, and how easy it is for an unvaccinated individual to contract it. In addition to the symptom of a painful full-body rash, a case of the measles can also result in other complications such as pneumonia, swelling of the brain, and in some cases death. Shoafstall says one of the most concerning things about the virus is that it’s most contagious when you show no symptoms.
Additionally, because of how aggressively contagious measles is, she says it’s dangerous for patients to receive care in a normal hospital setting. “The one thing that we recommend, if you’re showing any types of symptoms, is to contact your healthcare provider by phone. Do not go into the clinic, do not walk into an emergency room. This is the easiest way to transmit the measles. It hangs in the air for at least two hours, even after the person leaves.”
Shoafstall points out that the easiest way to protect yourself and those around you from the measles is to get vaccinated. It’s recommended that children should receive their first MMR shot, which includes mumps and rubella vaccines, at 12-15 months-old, and then a booster between ages 4-6. To learn more about the measles and vaccines, click the link below to listen to the Perry Fareway Let’s Talk Dallas County program with Shoafstall and Dallas County Public Health Program Coordinator Amy Short.