An illness once considered severely reduced is back in the spotlight after an outbreak started at the happiest place in the world, Disneyland. Health officials said around the Christmas holiday, when families were flocking to Disney for vacation, an unidentified and unknown individual who visited the park had measles. This highly contagious illness is now affecting many visitors who went back home, and is passing it to loved ones and friends. Affected states thus far includes Utah, California, Colorado and Washington state, and possibly more. Over the past year, vaccinations in children have decreased -making the illness a concern for children who visited the park.
Expect measles to be more far-reaching than the Ebola scare. Health officials have contacted nearly 400 people in Utah alone who have been in contact with someone who visited the park. They are asked to quarantine themselves at home for 21 days.
California is scrambling to protect consumers from visiting areas were infected measles patients have been. The LA Times released a detailed report of the many locations in California for readers to become aware of the situation. The transmission of the illness was thought to be eliminated back in 2000. But, in 2014 more than 600 cases sprouted across the country, 382 were from Ohio alone. Those at the greatest risk are individuals and children who have not been vaccinated, the sick and elderly.
Barbara Loe Fisher, president of the National Vaccine Information Center, thinks blaming unvaccinated people for the illness is wrong. She states parents must be supported for their decisions when it comes to their children, and not be “harassed, coerced or punished” for the choices made.
Visitors from out of the country also visit Disneyland, and considering parts of Southeast Asia and Europe where measles is still problematic, the spread is not necessarily from an American who did not get their vaccinations.
What are the signs, symptoms and treatment factors when it comes to the measles? Viral Global News is not a medical facility and we encourage all those concerned to see a doctor immediately before taking any treatment options.
Signs and Symptoms: can take up to 14 days for the illness to appear from the onset.
- High fever
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Conjunctivitis (red, watery or itchy eyes)
- White spots in the mouth called Koplik spots
- A rash can begin, usually on the face and spreads down to the remainder of the body
- Red small bumps may also appear as the rash grows
Treatment
- Those who were exposed to measles can still acquire the vaccination, but only within 72 hours of exposure
- Protein antibodies may be administered to children and those at high-risk. The serum globulin mix can reduce symptoms and perhaps prevent it from continuing
- Over the counter meds like Tylenol and ibuprofen can be given to alleviate pain
- Medical professionals recommend large doses of vitamin A (see a doctor)
- Antibiotics may be given by a doctor to reduce the fever and rash
- Lots of fluids to keep the body hydrated
- Keep lights low, even on television sets to avoid irking the eye redness and pain
- Humidifiers can relieve coughs and throat pain
- Isolation, this highly contagious illness requires the infected to be isolated from loved ones
- Those who had measles previously will not get the illness again
If you have come into contact with someone who visited the park around the holidays, please visit a family doctor for further instructions.