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Watch VideoDr. John warns about measles at summer camp
Story By: Dr. John
Source: KOAA
If you're getting your child ready for summer camp and worried about how they'll cope, there's one more thing you need to add to that list, will they catch measles?
The answer is that this year it seems more likely than any other year in the recent past because we are already starting to see more measles outbreaks than in any other recent year. As a matter of fact, federal health officials just released a warning that there are already measles outbreaks in seven states. And since measles is highly contagious and can cause severe illness or even death, they are urging parents to make sure children have all their shots before heading off to summer camp.
Of the sixty four cases we've already seen nationwide between January and April of this year, most, but not all occurred in people that were never vaccinated. Of these cases, thirteen were too young to get the vaccine. Seven were over one year old but were late in getting their first MMR shot yet and sixteen others were older but came from families that refused vaccination. Only one person in the current outbreak had gotten fully vaccinated, had had both recommended shots.
The problem is that measles is very contagious and can be very serious. So experts are worried that children will be particularly at risk this summer, especially if they attend summer camps and haven't been vaccinated.
So although measles hasn't been reported in Colorado yet, and that yet is very important, it's still a good idea to go over your children's shot records, and yours too while your at it. If they are not up to date, get them updated now since it takes weeks for the shots to become affected. And before they head off to summer camp, see if the camp requires vaccinations of all its staff and children.
