What You Need to Know about the Measles
May 16, 2017
by Mankato Clinic
Due to an outbreak of measles in Le Sueur, Crow Wing, Ramsey and Hennepin counties, we want you to be informed on the virus and help answer any questions that you may have about what to do if you or someone you know needs to protect themselves against measles.
Vaccination: due to an effective vaccine and high vaccination rates, measles is not common in the United States. The best protection against the measles is to make sure everyone who is able receives the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
What is it: measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus. Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose and watery eyes followed by a rash that typically spreads from the head to the rest of the body.
How it’s spread: a person with measles can pass it on to others four days before the rash appears to four days after it appears. Measles spreads easily by coughing, sneezing or being in the same room with someone who has the illness.
Recommendations: Minnesota Department of Health is recommending an “accelerated” vaccination schedule for children and adolescents of the two dose MMR series in counties with a confirmed case of measles. Counties include Le Sueur, Hennepin, Ramsey and Crow Wing. If you live outside of these counties and still want the accelerated MMR schedule, please call 507-625-1811 and schedule an appointment. Children (12 months and older) and adolescents should have two doses of MMR. The first dose is given at 12 months and, with the accelerated schedule, can be followed by a second dose 28 days later. People who need to be vaccinated can call the Mankato Clinic at 507-625-1811. Adults who have not had measles or measles vaccine should receive one dose of MMR vaccine, particularly if they were born before 1957 or later.
If you think you have the measles: if you have the following symptoms — high fever, cough, runny nose and watery eyes followed by a rash that typically spreads from the head to the rest of the body — and think you may have the measles, do not go to Urgent Care. Call 507-625-1811 and ask to speak to a nurse.
Check your records: You can view your immunizations and immunizations for your children up to age 13 on your Mankato Clinic Patient Portal. To view immunizations, click on the My Health tab in your Patient Portal and choose “Immunizations.” Immunizations administered prior to June 2008 may not show in the patient portal. You may request all vaccination records by calling the Minnesota Immunization Information Connection request line at 651-201-3980.
More information: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/measles/index.html