CDC: Ensure Patients Are Up-To-Date on MMR Vaccine
Since the multistate measles outbreak connected to Disneyland in California, it is important that physicians ensure that all eligible patients are current on their measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine and consider measles in the differential diagnosis of patients with fever and rash, according to a recent CDC Health Advisory.
Since early December 42 cases of measles have been reported in California, and another 9 cases were reported in residents living outside of California who were exposed to the disease at Disneyland and the Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim.
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According to the CDC, 28 of the infected individuals were unvaccinated, 17 had unknown vaccination status, and 6 were vaccinated. Of those unvaccinated, 5 were underage to receive the vaccine.
Moving forward, the CDC suggested that physicians include measles in the differential diagnosis for patients displaying “a febrile rash illness and clinically compatible symptoms (cough, coryza, and/or conjunctivitis) who has recently traveled abroad or who has had contact with someone with a febrile rash illness.”
The researchers noted that children and adults who do not appear to have measles immunity should have documentation of 2 doses of MMR vaccine spaced appropriately.
The complete report is published on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.
-Michelle Canales
Reference:
The CDC Health Alert Network. US multi-state measles outbreak, December 2014-January 2015. http://emergency.cdc.gov/han/han00376.asp. Published January 23, 2015. Accessed January 26, 2015.