Shiloh
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Source: http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2008/04/30/local_news/080430l1measles.txt
Updated: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 2:08 PM PDT
Measles outbreak raises worry
Eight people in Grant County appear to have the disease, and local folks are urged to be alert.
By SHEILA HAGAR of the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin
A new outbreak of measles in Grant County could have consequences for Walla Walla area families, health officials warned today.
On Tuesday, the Grant County Public Health District reported eight suspected measles cases in a family whose children are not immunized.
In late March, the family attended the Generation Church Conference, a large event in Kirkland, Wash. Experts believe it was the likely time of exposure for the family.
The period they would have been infectious to others would have been about mid-April, officials said. The rash associated with measles appeared April 12, after the family attended the church event on March 27-29.
The Generation Church Conference is billed as one of the Northwest's largest youth conferences for students of middle-school through college age. The conference is split into to two sessions, with March 27 overlapping for all attendees during combined events.
Preliminary information obtained from conference organizers would estimate 1,000 to 2,000 people attended from multiple states, and that there were at least some from overseas, health officials noted.
Of the 10 children present in the Grant County family's household, eight have had rash-related illnesses and three of those cases have been confirmed as measles as of today. Five of the victims have recovered without incident. More test results will be coming forward, said Harvey Crowder, administrator for Walla Walla County Public Health Department.
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Measles are in the rise worldwide and this outbreak has the potential of reaching here, he said. "It a rare, but high-consequence event." Public heath officials are working to find out possible connections to other conference-goers, Crowder added.
Once names are released, his office will try to contact any Walla Walla attendees to inquire about immunization status, he said.
"Severe complications are rare, but we want to limit them," he said.
Suspected measles cases should be reported immediately to his department at 524-2650. People who think they may have the illness can also contact their physicians, but must call ahead before going into a waiting room and possibly infecting others, he said. Parents who have not vaccinated their children are urged to do so immediately; if they choose not to, "be watching your children for sudden onset of high fever, followed by a rash."
Adults born prior to 1957 are generally considered immune to measles. "After that it gets a little dicey. The early inoculations did not provide lifelong immunity." Now everyone gets two vaccinations, starting at 12 months old and followed by another at 4 to 6 years old or at 11 to 12, Crowder said.
ABOUT MEASLES
Measles is a respiratory disease caused by a virus and may be also be called "10- day," "hard" or "red" measles. The illness is marked by rash, high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes.
The virus is spread by those infected from sneezing, coughing or direct contact. Airborne transmission can occur for up to two hours after a person with measles has been in a closed area.
The incubation period usually lasts for four to 12 days, during which there are no symptoms. Infected people remain contagious from the appearance of the first symptoms until three to five days after the rash appears.
Measles usually lasts about 10 to 14 days. In some parts of the world, the disease is severe and can be deadly. In Western countries, victims of measles may become quite ill, but most people recover completely. However, complications may include ear infections in nearly one out of 10 children; about one in 1,000 people can develop encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain that may cause vomiting, convulsions and, rarely, coma; pneumonia, diarrhea or vomiting, most often in infants and small children.
Measles can also cause bronchitis, laryngitis or croup, and problems in pregnancy such as miscarriage, low birth weight babies and premature labor. The measles vaccine can prevent the disease.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control, Mayo Clinic
Updated: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 2:08 PM PDT
Measles outbreak raises worry
Eight people in Grant County appear to have the disease, and local folks are urged to be alert.
By SHEILA HAGAR of the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin
A new outbreak of measles in Grant County could have consequences for Walla Walla area families, health officials warned today.
On Tuesday, the Grant County Public Health District reported eight suspected measles cases in a family whose children are not immunized.
In late March, the family attended the Generation Church Conference, a large event in Kirkland, Wash. Experts believe it was the likely time of exposure for the family.
The period they would have been infectious to others would have been about mid-April, officials said. The rash associated with measles appeared April 12, after the family attended the church event on March 27-29.
The Generation Church Conference is billed as one of the Northwest's largest youth conferences for students of middle-school through college age. The conference is split into to two sessions, with March 27 overlapping for all attendees during combined events.
Preliminary information obtained from conference organizers would estimate 1,000 to 2,000 people attended from multiple states, and that there were at least some from overseas, health officials noted.
Of the 10 children present in the Grant County family's household, eight have had rash-related illnesses and three of those cases have been confirmed as measles as of today. Five of the victims have recovered without incident. More test results will be coming forward, said Harvey Crowder, administrator for Walla Walla County Public Health Department.
*
Measles are in the rise worldwide and this outbreak has the potential of reaching here, he said. "It a rare, but high-consequence event." Public heath officials are working to find out possible connections to other conference-goers, Crowder added.
Once names are released, his office will try to contact any Walla Walla attendees to inquire about immunization status, he said.
"Severe complications are rare, but we want to limit them," he said.
Suspected measles cases should be reported immediately to his department at 524-2650. People who think they may have the illness can also contact their physicians, but must call ahead before going into a waiting room and possibly infecting others, he said. Parents who have not vaccinated their children are urged to do so immediately; if they choose not to, "be watching your children for sudden onset of high fever, followed by a rash."
Adults born prior to 1957 are generally considered immune to measles. "After that it gets a little dicey. The early inoculations did not provide lifelong immunity." Now everyone gets two vaccinations, starting at 12 months old and followed by another at 4 to 6 years old or at 11 to 12, Crowder said.
ABOUT MEASLES
Measles is a respiratory disease caused by a virus and may be also be called "10- day," "hard" or "red" measles. The illness is marked by rash, high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes.
The virus is spread by those infected from sneezing, coughing or direct contact. Airborne transmission can occur for up to two hours after a person with measles has been in a closed area.
The incubation period usually lasts for four to 12 days, during which there are no symptoms. Infected people remain contagious from the appearance of the first symptoms until three to five days after the rash appears.
Measles usually lasts about 10 to 14 days. In some parts of the world, the disease is severe and can be deadly. In Western countries, victims of measles may become quite ill, but most people recover completely. However, complications may include ear infections in nearly one out of 10 children; about one in 1,000 people can develop encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain that may cause vomiting, convulsions and, rarely, coma; pneumonia, diarrhea or vomiting, most often in infants and small children.
Measles can also cause bronchitis, laryngitis or croup, and problems in pregnancy such as miscarriage, low birth weight babies and premature labor. The measles vaccine can prevent the disease.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control, Mayo Clinic