MECKLENBURG CO., NC – Mecklenburg County Public Health is encouraging parents to make sure their children are up to date on their vaccines, especially the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine, as national cases of measles rise.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 222 cases of measles have been reported from 12 states, including Texas and New Mexico. There has been one death associated with the Texas outbreak and one death associated with the New Mexico outbreak. No cases have been reported in Mecklenburg County this year. There was a confirmed case in the county last year, and was the first case of measles since 2018.
βIt is frustrating to see a disease that was once eliminated in the U.S. start to circulate again in communities across the country,β said Dr. Raynard Washington, Mecklenburg County Public Health director.
The symptoms of measles include a fever, runny nose, cough, rash and red eyes.Β The CDC recommends that people of all ages keep up to date with their vaccinations. Children should receive two doses of the MMR vaccine β the first dose at 12 through 15 months of age and the second dose 4 through 6 years of age. One dose of the vaccine is 93% effective at preventing measles and two doses is 97% effective.
If you see symptoms of measles, call your doctor, clinic or emergency department right away. Itβs important to call a healthcare facility before you go to get instructions to prevent further spread of measles.
The MMR vaccine is widely available at healthcare providers and retail pharmacies across Mecklenburg County, and it is offered for free or low-cost at the Mecklenburg County Public Health Immunization Clinic. A mobile health unit will also be providing vaccines on-site at CMS schools throughout the spring.
