HEALTH
This is a message from the Louisiana Department of Health Emergency Operations Center (LDH EOC) to share a CDC Health Advisory on an imported case of Measles in the New Orleans area.
Measles Health Alert
The Louisiana Department of Health has issued a measles health alert and is urging immunization against this highly contagious illness. State health officials are asking health care providers to be on alert for potential exposures and patients with measles symptoms.
The Louisiana Department of Health has identified a laboratory-confirmed case of measles in a recent traveler from Europe to New Orleans arriving in New Orleans on Thursday, April 5th. The patient presented with cough, congestion, fever and rash, and the diagnosis was confirmed by PCR (identification of viral RNA).
Given this case, and a recent increase in measles internationally, all healthcare providers are requested to consider measles in the initial differential diagnosis of patients with compatible symptoms (febrile rash illness), particularly those who have traveled abroad or come into contact with a known measles case and are unvaccinated. Measles is characterized by a prodrome of fever (as high as 105°F) and malaise, cough, coryza, and conjunctivitis, followed by a maculopapular rash.
If you suspect a patient has measles:
1. Immediately report any suspected cases to the Louisiana Office of Public Health Infectious Disease Epidemiology Hotline at 800-256-2748 to coordinate testing through the OPH Laboratory.
2. Provide education on contact precautions (washing hands, avoiding touching infected surfaces or objects) and droplet precautions (respiratory etiquette).
3. If the patient is hospitalized, airborne precautions are indicated (negative pressure room and N95 mask with proper seal).
Measles is a highly contagious virus found in the nose and throat mucus of an infected person. It takes approximately 7-14 days from time of exposure to start to exhibit symptoms. It can spread to others through respiratory droplets and droplet nuclei released when coughing, sneezing speaking. Also, measles virus can remain for up to two hours in an airspace where the infected person was present. If other people breathe the contaminated air or touch infected surfaces, then touch their eyes, noses, or mouths, they can become infected. Measles is so contagious that if one person has it, 90% of the people close to that person who are not immune will also become infected.
Infected individuals can spread measles to others from four days before through four days after the rash appears.
Measles can be serious in all age groups. However, children younger than 5 years of age and adults older than 20 years of age are more likely to suffer from measles complications.
Infographic
Common measles complications include ear infections and diarrhea.
• Ear infections occur in about one out of every 10 children with measles and can result in permanent hearing loss.
• Diarrhea is reported in less than one out of 10 people with measles.
Some people may suffer from severe complications, such as pneumonia (infection of the lungs) and encephalitis (swelling of the brain). They may need to be hospitalized and could die.
• As many as one out of every 20 children with measles gets pneumonia, the most common cause of death from measles in young children.
• About one child out of every 1,000 who get measles will develop encephalitis (swelling of the brain) that can lead to convulsions and can leave the child deaf or with intellectual disability.
• For every 1,000 children who get measles, one or two will die from it.
Measles may cause pregnant woman to give birth prematurely or have a low-birth-weight baby.
From January 1 to March 30, 2018, 34 people from 11 states (Arkansas, California, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas) were reported to have measles.
In 2017, 118 people from 15 states and the District of Columbia were reported to have measles. In 2016, 86 people from 19 states were reported to have measles. In 2015, 188 people from 24 states and the District of Columbia were reported to have measles. In 2014, the United States experienced a record number of measles cases, with 667 cases from 27 states reported to CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD); this is the greatest number of cases since measles elimination was documented in the U.S. in 2000.
The majority of people who got measles were unvaccinated.
Measles is still common in many parts of the world including some countries in Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and Africa.
Travelers with measles continue to bring the disease into the U.S.
Measles can spread when it reaches a community in the U.S. where groups of people are unvaccinated.
The measles vaccine is very effective. One dose of measles vaccine is about 93% effective at preventing measles if exposed to the virus. Two doses are about 97% effective.
That means that only three out of 100 people who get two doses of measles vaccine will still get measles if exposed to the virus. In addition, fully vaccinated people who get measles are much more likely to have a milder illness, and they are also less likely to spread the disease to other people, including people who can’t get vaccinated because they are too young or have weakened immune systems.
Providers should also take appropriate infection control precautions and immediately report any suspected measles cases to the Louisiana Office of Public Health Infectious Disease Epidemiology Hotline at 800-256-2748.
Infected individuals can spread measles to others from four days before through four days after the rash appears.
Zika Topic of the Week
"Zika Topic of the Week" is a coordinated communication approach to highlight a simple message related to Zika each week. The message will be featured on the CDC.gov homepage, on the CDC Features webpage, throughout the Zika website, and through CDC’s social media channels. Social media messages will be developed for release during the week. The messages will be shared with our partners to encourage them to post for their audiences. When possible, the Zika prevention message will intersect with an established communication plan (i.e., National Preparedness Month).
Week of November 7
Going Home for the Holidays?
Protect yourself and your loved ones while traveling to areas with Zika.
Download the CDC Zika Widget for your website:
? English: http://www.cdc.gov/widgets/zika/index.html
? Spanish: http://www.cdc.gov/widgets/zikaspanish/index.html
Sample social media to help spread the word:
Facebook
? Traveling to see friends and family for the holidays? Find out if there is Zika at your destination and get Zika info on the go! Text PLAN to 855-255-5606 to subscribe to CDC’s new text message service.
? Stay healthy and safe this holiday season. If you’re traveling to an area with Zika, prevent mosquito bites during your trip and for 3 weeks after travel. Use condoms during and after your trip to protect yourself and your partner (men should use condoms for 6 months after travel, women should use condoms for 8 weeks). Get more tips for your trip from CDC’s Zika travel notices. http://go.usa.gov/cP69d
? Pregnant women should not travel to areas with Zika. Don’t put yourself at risk during holiday travel to visit friends and family!
? If you’re traveling to visit friends and family in an area with Zika, remember to pack smart. Bring enough insect repellent to last your entire trip for everyone who is traveling, long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and condoms. Check our site to learn more. http://go.usa.gov/wQU
? Bring home happy family memories, not Zika! Help prevent the spread of Zika after your holiday travel to an area with Zika. Avoid mosquito bites for 3 weeks after returning. Because Zika can also be spread through sex, use condoms after travel to protect your partner. Men, use condoms for 6 months. Women, use condoms for 8 weeks. If your partner is pregnant, use condoms for the rest of her pregnancy. If you feel sick after travel, talk to your doctor. Learn more: http://go.usa.gov/chG34
Twitter
? Traveling to see family living in an area with Zika? Get #Zika info on the go! Text PLAN to 855-255-5606 to subscribe.
?
? Think about #Zika before you visit loved ones for the #holidays. Check CDC’s #Zika travel health notices. http://go.usa.gov/cP69d
? #FightTheBite to stop #Zika – remember to prevent mosquito bites during #holiday travel! Get CDC tips: http://go.usa.gov/cPf2F
? Pregnant women should avoid travel to areas with #Zika. Don’t put yourself at risk during holiday travel to visit friends and family!
? Bring home #holiday memories, not #Zika. Avoid mosquito bites for 3 wks after traveling to an area with Zika and see a doctor if you get sick.
Upcoming Zika Topics of the Week:
? November 14: Sexual Transmission
? November 21: Healthcare Workers
? November 28: Protect Yourself, Protect Your Community
? December 5: Know the Facts
Click on the following link for: Facts about Ebola in the U.S.
You can also click on the following links for more information.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals
