Measles Outbreak
April 8, 2025
How to protect your family:
With measles cases across the country increasing and Colorado now having its first
case this year many families are contacting us to understand how they can best
protect their children and themselves. This article was created to answer some of
our frequently asked questions.
Measles is a highly contagious, airborne viral illness. So contagious, in fact, that if
someone with active measles infection was in a room even 2 hours before, if an
unvaccinated person walks in that same room they have a 90-95% chance of getting
measles (but a vaccinated person is 97% protected). The virus can be transmitted
from 4 days before the rash becomes visible to 4 days after the rash appears. So, in
areas of the country where there are numerous active cases, and the virus is
spreading, it is really important to make sure your family is protected.
The good news is that there is a safe and effective measles vaccine. Measles vaccine
is currently part of two licensed combination vaccines: the MMR (measles-mumps rubella)
and the MMRV (measles-mumps-rubella-varicella). There is no currently
available single component measles vaccine.
MMR is routinely first given to children at 12-15 months of age per the standard
schedule. The second dose of MMR is routinely given between 4-6 years of age.
If you live in, or are traveling to, a region where there is a current measles outbreak
and your child has only had their first vaccine, you should discuss getting the second
vaccine early with your doctor. It takes 10-14 days for the body to build up
protection from the vaccine.
How can I protect my infant who hasn't yet received the 12-month MMR? If your
child is at least 6 months old; they can receive the MMR vaccine early.
However, this
will be considered "dose zero" and will give them temporary protection. They will
still need the routine two doses at 12-15 months and 4-6 years of age.
Children under 6 months of age are not eligible to receive MMR vaccine. Antibodies
circulating from their mothers prevent them from having an appropriate response to
the vaccine. Best advice for infants traveling to an outbreak area (either in the US or
abroad)? Whenever possible: don't go.
What about parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles? For those people born prior to
1957, they are considered immune. Measles was widespread before the vaccine and
because of the highly contagious nature of the virus, those persons are considered
immune. Anyone, who had two doses of vaccine or has proven measles immunity by
antibody titers (blood work) are considered protected. There is no indication for a
third measles vaccine. If you are not sure, or had only one vaccine, the CDC has great
information.
Remember, we are not only protecting our families, but those vulnerable members
of our community who cannot get the vaccine
either because they are infants or
too young, are undergoing treatment for cancer, have immune deficiencies or are
immunosuppressed because they have had an organ transplant. Thank you for
keeping our community as safe as possible and contributing to herd immunity.
If you have declined the MMR
vaccine for your child (something we do NOT
recommend) and your child is ill or has been exposed to measles; then we would like
your child to be seen in the ER. If you choose to seek care at PANC, we would like to
know in advance and bring your child in a side entrance with a mask placed. This
will decrease the exposure to our patients in the waiting room.
Don’t hesitate to call us if you have any questions about Measles.
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The City of Fort Collins Streets Department will begin concrete repairs on East Harmony Road between South College Avenue (U.S. Highway 287) and South Timberline Road beginning Monday, Jan. 6, 2024, weather permitting. Lane closures will be in effect during construction and drivers should be aware of changing traffic patterns. Access to businesses will be maintained. Work is expected to last 6-8 weeks, weather permitting. This work is a part of the City of Fort Collins Street Maintenance Program (SMP). These concrete repairs will be followed by asphalt milling and paving, tentatively scheduled to begin in April 2025.
We wanted to update you on what we are doing to keep our patients, their families and our staff safe from COVID-19 (Corona virus). We have your health and safety as our first priority. We are here to care for your children amidst this pandemic.
When it comes to nutrition, we all have a lot of questions.
With measles cases across the country breaking records, many families are contacting us to understand how they can best protect their children and themselves. This article was created to answer some of those frequently asked questions.
