Tag: travel

Mapping the 2019 Measles Outbreaks

Cases of measles continue to rise, as we pass 1,000 cases in the United States.

2019 Measles Outbreaks

With a record high number of cases, there are measles cases and outbreaks in 31 states, including:

Alaska1Massachusetts2
Arizona1Michigan44
California61Mississippi1
Colorado1Missouri2
Connecticut3Nevada1
Florida2New Hampshire1
Georgia3New Jersey13
Hawaii2New York804
Idaho2Ohio1
Illinois7Oklahoma4
Indiana1Oregon11
Iowa2Pennsylvania6
Kentucky2Tennessee3
Maine1Texas20
Maryland4Virginia1
Washington85

What’s the first thing you notice about this measles outbreaks?

Where Are the Measles Outbreaks

They aren’t spread out evenly through the United States.

A simple tilegram of the United States.
A simple tilegram of the United States.

In fact, the largest outbreaks are clustered in just a few states, including California, Michigan, New York (Rockland County and Brooklyn), and Washington (Pacific Northwest Outbreak and the Puget Sound Outbreak).

Mapping the 2019 Measles Outbreaks

What does that look like when you map it?

It looks a little strange…

A tilegram mapping the 2019 measles outbreaks in the United States.

And that’s because, amazingly, about 70% of cases this year are in just one state – New York!

But that doesn’t mean that you don’t have to be concerned if you don’t live in New York. After all, measles is on the rise all over the world and it is still just a plane ride away. And there are plenty of other communities with low immunization rates where folks are at risk for outbreaks.

Also consider that even without the big outbreaks, this would still rank as a big year for measles.

Bottom line?

Get vaccinated and protected and stop the outbreaks. The MMR vaccine is safe, effective, with few risks. And it is obviously necessary.

More on Mapping the 2019 Measles Outbreaks

When Do You Get the Measles Vaccine?

With the rise in measles cases this year, folks are asking when they routinely get the measles vaccine to help make sure they are vaccinated and protected.

Do you know when you routinely get your measles vaccine?
Adults who aren’t high risk might be able to get away with simply having one dose of MMR or a measles containing vaccine since 1967.

Unfortunately, there isn’t an easy answer.

When Do You Get the Measles Vaccine?

Well, there kind of is.

Today, we routinely give:

  • the first dose of the measles vaccine (MMR) when toddlers are 12 to 15 months old, and
  • the second dose of MMR when they are 4 to 6 years old

However, if you are at high risk to get measles, especially if you are planning to travel out of the country or to specific areas with active outbreaks, you should get those doses early.

Early Doses of MMR

How early?

As early as age six months.

In fact, high-risk infants 6 through 11 months of age should receive one early dose of MMR vaccine, a dose that will have to be repeated when they are 12 months old. This early dose is mostly about international travel though and not travel within the United States, unless there is a specific recommendation in a local area.

“For outbreaks with sustained, community-wide transmission affecting infants <12 months of age and with ongoing risk of exposures to infants, health departments may consider vaccination of infants aged 6-11 months in these affected areas (including visitors) with 1 dose of MMR vaccine. This recommendation should be made following careful assessment of the benefit of early protection against measles during a period of increased transmission and exposure, and risk of decreased immune response following subsequent MMR doses in infants vaccinated at <12 months of age compared with infants vaccinated at ≥12 months of age.”

Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases

And children 1 to 3 years of age who are high-risk should receive two doses of MMR vaccine (instead of waiting to get the second dose when they are 4-6 years old), separated by at least 28 days.

This second dose doesn’t have to be repeated though.

When Did We Use to Give the Measles Vaccine?

Still, more than a review of the current immunization schedule, most folks want to know when we used to get vaccinated against measles. That’s what might help you figure out if you are vaccinated and protected.

Hopefully, you can just check your shot records too.

It might also help to know that we began:

  • giving the first measles vaccine in 1963. This doesn’t count as a dose of measles vaccine though, as it didn’t provide long-lasting protection.
  • giving the first improved, live measles vaccine in 1967.
  • using the combined MMR in 1971.
  • offering a second dose of MMR to kids in 1990.

So, how many doses have you had?

What to Know About Getting an MMR Vaccine

If you haven’t had two doses and are at high risk to get measles, get caught up and protected. Keep in mind that you don’t need to check your titers first and you won’t need a third dose of MMR. Titers might be a good idea if you were born before 1957 and aren’t sure if you had a natural case of measles.

“The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from measles is by getting vaccinated. You should plan to be fully vaccinated at least 2 weeks before you depart. If your trip is less than 2 weeks away and you’re not protected against measles, you should still get a dose of MMR vaccine.”

Before international travel: Make sure you’re protected against measles

Lastly, if possible, try to get your second dose of MMR at least two weeks before your trip.

More on When We Give the Measles Vaccine

Who’s Getting Measles?

We will soon pass the last record high number of measles cases – 963 cases – set in 1994.

We will soon pass the last record high number of measles cases - 963 cases - set in 1994.

With 839 cases as of mid-April, it’s hard to believe that only 55 cases were reported during all of 2012!

Who’s Getting Measles?

So what do we know about the people who are getting measles?

More importantly, the thing that most parents want to know – are their families at risk?

We know that of the 839 cases right now:

  • 442 are in Brooklyn among the Orthodox Jewish community, where only 4% of cases have been fully vaccinated
  • 125 are in Rockland County, New York, among the Orthodox Jewish community, where only 3% of cases have been fully vaccinated
  • 78 were in the Pacific Northwest Outbreak (Washington and Oregon), where none were fully immunized – (ended)
  • 43 are in Michigan, mostly among Oakland County’s Orthodox Jewish community, triggered by a man who had recently traveled from New York

So just over 80% of cases are associated with four outbreaks, one of which has been declared over, and mostly among children and adults who were intentionally not vaccinated.

The rest of the 200 cases?

Among 45 cases in California, are 30 cases in these four outbreaks.
Among 45 cases in California, are 30 cases in these four outbreaks.

They are spread out in smaller outbreaks in other states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas.

Does that mean that you don’t have to worry about measles?

It means that you don’t have to panic about measles.

Get your kids vaccinated and protected, which might include an early dose of MMR, learn the signs and symptoms of measles, and keep up on news of outbreaks in your area.

That should help decrease the risk that they get caught up in an outbreak.

And double check your own vaccine records! Have you had an MMR vaccine? Have you had two doses?

Unfortunately, not everyone can get vaccinated and protected, which is causing some folks to panic. This includes those who are too young to be vaccinated, or fully vaccinated, and those with immune system problems.

That’s not fair.

Let’s stop the outbreaks so we don’t get to the point that measles truly is everywhere and even more high-risk people are put at risk.

More on Who’s Getting Measles

Alex Jones Has a Lot to Say About the Measles Outbreaks

Since most anti-vaccine theories involve some type of conspiracy theory, it shouldn’t be surprising that Alex Jones is all over the measles outbreaks.

His theory?

It’s all a hoax!

“Think about how cold blooded it is. That the bureaucrats, and the UN, and the globalists that control much of our government the last few years open our borders and told the entire third world, the poorest of the poor, filled with diseases, to pour into our nation.

And then the CDC reports from local health departments across the country that’s it’s illegal aliens called migrants that are spreading the measles, the mumps, the rubella, the pertussis, and all these record level diseases hitting Europe and the United States. Because they’re getting hit by the open borders too.

And then we’re told that those of us that haven’t taken the hundreds of mandated vaccines are to blame.

This whole thing is a false flag. This whole thing is staged. This whole thing is a hoax. “

Alex Jones

Surprisingly, he isn’t actually saying that no one has measles. The measles outbreaks are real. He just thinks that “globalists are weaponizing illegal migrant flows to spread the measles outbreak throughout America.”

While Alex Jones mostly gets away with saying whatever he wants, as I sure you have guessed, it isn’t true that the Center for Disease Control has admitted “that illegal migrants are the original carriers despite the MSM demonizing anti-vaxxers as the culprits.”

“Alex Jones breaks down how the measles outbreak is directly caused by illegal immigration, with even the Center for Disease Control admitting that every major outbreak this year originated from illegal aliens.”

Exclusive! The Measles Outbreak Is A Giant False Flag & A Hoax

Not only has the CDC not said that measles cases are tied to undocumented immigrants, they recently said that the outbreaks have been triggered by unvaccinated US residents who have traveled to Philippines (14 cases), Ukraine (8), Israel (5), Thailand (3), Vietnam (2), Germany (2), Algeria, France, India, Lithuania, Russia, and the United Kingdom (1 case from each country).

“Recent outbreaks have been driven by misinformation about measles and MMR vaccine, which has led to undervaccination in vulnerable communities.

Unvaccinated U.S. residents traveling internationally are at risk for acquiring measles.”

Increase in Measles Cases — United States, January 1–April 26, 2019

Should we be surprised that Alex Jones is contributing to the misinformation about measles?

Of course not, that’s his nature.

What we should be surprised about is that folks are still listening to him.

Vaccines are safe, with few risks, and are obviously necessary. Get vaccinated and help stop the outbreaks.

More on Measles Conspiracy Theories