LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) is advising Arkansans traveling abroad to be vaccinated for measles. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, young children are at risk of measles acquired during international travel.
During the first 19 weeks of 2011, 118 cases of measles were reported, the highest number reported for this period since 1996. Forty percent of cases reported this year have required hospitalization. Seven children that traveled internationally contracted measles in January and February and four of these had to be hospitalized.
An outbreak of measles in Minnesota was linked to international travel and eight young children were hospitalized. Boston, Massachusetts, is currently seeing an outbreak of the disease in people that visited a zoo where a worker was infected with measles and spread the highly contagious illness.
Measles is rarely seen in the United States but is fairly widespread in many foreign countries. United States citizens that are not vaccinated for this disease are at risk for developing the disease. Pregnant women, infants and young children are particularly vulnerable. Measles is spread by direct contact with nasal or throat secretions of infected people or, less frequently, by airborne transmission. Measles is one of the most easily transmitted communicable diseases.
Signs and symptoms of measles are characterized by cough, runny nose and conjunctivitis (pink eye) along with a high fever and rash.
The Arkansas Department of Health urges that any Arkansan or visitor to the state that has not been vaccinated for measles receive vaccine from their doctor or at any local health unit statewide.
According to spokesman Ed Barham, measles is an acute, higly contagious viral disease. It's more common in spring and winter. It's spread by direct contact with nasal or throat secretions of infected people, or less frequently, by airborne transmission. Measles is one of the most readily transmitted communicable diseases.
Measles symptoms generally appear in two stages. In the first stage, the individual may have a runny nose, cough and a slight fever. The eyes may become reddened and sensitive to light while the fever consistently rises each day. The second stage begins on the third to seventh day and consists of a temperature of 103-105°F, and a red blotchy rash lasting four to seven days. The rash usually begins on the face and then spreads over the entire body. Koplik spots (little white spots) may also appear on the gums and inside the cheeks