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\nLouisville Metro leaders have announced the first confirmed case of measles in Jefferson County. It now makes 13 cases across the state of Kentucky.<\/p>\n
\nLouisville Metro leaders have announced the first confirmed case of measles in Jefferson County. It now makes 13 cases across the state of Kentucky.<\/p>\n
In a press conference on Tuesday, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said the child was traveling internationally to a country where there is an ongoing measles outbreak. Health officials believe the child got infected during that trip.<\/p>\n
This comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports more than 1,200 cases across the U.S. so far this year. It is especially concerning because measles is highly contagious and can spread before you even feel the symptoms coming. The virus can hang in the air for up to two hours, so even after the person has left, you can still be exposed to measles and you are not aware of it.<\/p>\n
Typical measles symptoms may include high fever, sneezing, and coughing. Health experts say a rash tends to follow in the upcoming days.<\/p>\n
Health officials believe a decrease in vaccination rates is behind the increase in measles cases. Out of the first 12 confirmed cases in Kentucky, officials said 11 people were unvaccinated and the other one only had gotten one of the two doses of the MMR vaccine. Results from the most recent school immunizations survey show 86.9 percent of Kentucky kindergarteners are fully vaccinated against measles, trailing behind the national average, which is about 93 percent.<\/p>\n
Dr. Kris Bryant, pediatric infectious disease specialist with Norton Children\u2019s Infectious Diseases, pointed out that most parents have not seen a case of measles because the immunization program has been so successful.<\/p>\n
Dr. Bryant said this may cause parents to second-guess whether they need to vaccinate their children, but she emphasized they should make it a priority because of how dangerous the disease can be.<\/p>\n
Dr. Bryant pointed out that one in five children may end up in the hospital because of the measles. She added kids can develop ear infections, intense diarrhea, pneumonia, and inflammation of the brain. She said the disease can also suppress their immune system.<\/p>\n