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County Health Department Urges Everyone Stay Current with All Recommended Vaccinations
The Saint Louis County Department of Health is strongly urging all residents to stay current with all recommended vaccinations.
“The recent measles outbreaks around the nation should remind us all of the importance of receiving all recommended vaccinations,” said Dr. Faisal Khan, director of the Saint Louis County Department of Health. “Measles was considered to have been eradicated in the United States by the year 2000, but now it is back because of people not staying current with their vaccinations.”
Measles is a highly contagious viral illness that can cause severe complications in young children and some adults. Early symptoms usually include a fever, cough, runny nose, and pink eye, all of which can last for two (2) to four (4) days before the appearance of a rash. Infected people are contagious from four (4) days before the rash starts until four (4) days after the rash appears. The disease is transmitted by contact with an infected person who is coughing or sneezing. Even after an infected person has left a location, the virus can remain on surfaces and in the air for up to two (2) hours.
In addition to the measles vaccine, the health department is urging that everyone stay current with all vaccinations recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC). Vaccination schedules for people of all ages can be found at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/. People who are not sure which vaccinations they have received are asked to check with their healthcare provider to determine their immunization status.
“Measles is a preventable disease,” added Dr. Khan. “Working together, this is an illness that we can once again eradicate from the U.S.”
Because measles and other diseases can be more common overseas, the department also advises that all travelers receive all recommended vaccinations several weeks prior to traveling (recommendations will vary based on destination).
There has not been a case of measles in St. Louis County since 1994. For more information about measles, please visit www.cdc.gov/measles/about/faqs.html.
