Number of Measles Cases in U.S. Climbing - East Idaho News

Number of Measles Cases in U.S. Climbing

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Thinkstock 040114 Vaccination?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1396383743163Digital Vision/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — New York City Health Commissioner Mary Bassett announced on Tuesday that the number of cases of measles confirmed in New York City has jumped to 25 since February, up from 16 as of March 7.

The majority of the cases in the current outbreak have been centered in Northern Manhattan, with a newer cluster of three cases in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Twelve of the cases involve children.

The New York City Health Department recommends that all pediatric health care providers who have patients in the impacted areas contact the families of children under the age of 12 months and request that they receive MMR vaccination, and that all children who have already received the first dose of the MMR vaccine receive the second dose immediately.

Any person who suspects they may have contracted the measles virus is asked to contact a medical provider before seeking medical attention to reduce the risk of exposing others to the virus.

The measles virus was believed to have been nearly eliminated in the United States due to the use of vaccinations. Between 2001 and 2011, there were just 83 cases of measles per year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2013 there were 189 cases of measles and there have already been more than 80 in 2014.

Meanwhile, more than 20 people have been diagnosed with measles in Orange County, Calif., and more than 40 have had the measles at some point this year. Despite the uptick in measles cases, the California Department of Public Health says over 16,000 kids began kindergarten this school year without getting vaccinated.

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