Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) - Measles Outbreak: CA, December 2014–February 2015

[proverbialwisdom]

Source: CDC Early Release

Early Release
February 13, 2015 / 64(Early Release);1-2

Jennifer Zipprich, PhD1, Kathleen Winter, MPH1, Jill Hacker, PhD1, Dongxiang Xia, MD, PhD1, James Watt, MD1, Kathleen Harriman, PhD1 (Author affiliations at end of text)

On January 5, 2015, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) was notified about a suspected measles case. The patient was a hospitalized, unvaccinated child, aged 11 years with rash onset on December 28. The only notable travel history during the exposure period was a visit to one of two adjacent Disney theme parks located in Orange County, California. On the same day, CDPH received reports of four additional suspected measles cases in California residents and two in Utah residents, all of whom reported visiting one or both Disney theme parks during December 17–20. By January 7, seven California measles cases had been confirmed, and CDPH issued a press release and an Epidemic Information Exchange (Epi-X) notification to other states regarding this outbreak. Measles transmission is ongoing (Figure).

As of February 11, a total of 125 measles cases with rash occurring during December 28, 2014–February 8, 2015, had been confirmed in U.S. residents connected with this outbreak. Of these, 110 patients were California residents. Thirty-nine (35%) of the California patients visited one or both of the two Disney theme parks during December 17–20, where they are thought to have been exposed to measles, 37 have an unknown exposure source (34%), and 34 (31%) are secondary cases. Among the 34 secondary cases, 26 were household or close contacts, and eight were exposed in a community setting. Five (5%) of the California patients reported being in one or both of the two Disney theme parks during their exposure period outside of December 17–20, but their source of infection is unknown. In addition, 15 cases linked to the two Disney theme parks have been reported in seven other states: Arizona (seven), Colorado (one), Nebraska (one), Oregon (one), Utah (three), and Washington (two), as well as linked cases reported in two neighboring countries, Mexico (one) and Canada (10).

Among the 110 California patients, 49 (45%) were unvaccinated; five (5%) had 1 dose of measles-containing vaccine, seven (6%) had 2 doses, one (1%) had 3 doses, 47 (43%) had unknown or undocumented vaccination status, and one (1%) had immunoglobulin G seropositivity documented, which indicates prior vaccination or measles infection at an undetermined time. Twelve of the unvaccinated patients were infants too young to be vaccinated. Among the 37 remaining vaccine-eligible patients, 28 (67%) were intentionally unvaccinated because of personal beliefs, and one was on an alternative plan for vaccination. Among the 28 intentionally unvaccinated patients, 18 were children (aged <18 years), and 10 were adults. Patients range in age from 6 weeks to 70 years; the median age is 22 years. Among the 84 patients with known hospitalization status, 17 (20%) were hospitalized.

The source of the initial Disney theme park exposure has not been identified. Specimens from 30 California patients were genotyped; all were measles genotype B3, which has caused a large outbreak recently in the Philippines, but has also been detected in at least 14 countries and at least six U.S. states in the last 6 months (1).

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Read more: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm64e0213a1.htm

[still_one]

1. maybe we can hear that idiot Bill Maher tell everyone that Measles isn't a serious thing again.

[Yo_Mama]

3. It's interesting that the 20% hospitilization rate is the same

as that reported for the US before.

Years ago parents and grandparents knew how to deal with childhood measles - now that knowledge has been lost.

Extend that to a much larger outbreak, and consider the pressure on hospitals and the exposures for others at the hospital for different causes!!

Not all who have been vaccinated will be fully immune, in the first place. And it's awesomely contagious.

[postulater]

4. I didn't see any recorded deaths.

I wonder what the hospitalization outcomes were. Didn't see any info on that either.

[Yo_Mama]

5. Deaths are uncommon - illness requiring hospitalization is not.

Also some of those acutely ill will have long term damage.

[postulater]

6. I didn't see any report of either any deaths or of the outcomes of hospitalizations.

[El Shaman]

2. But-------but

what about Glen???

http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/glenn-beck-measles-outbreak-hoax-meant-convince-people-obey-government

[bananas]

7. Looks like the outbreak may be over

Hopefully the hysteria will also end soon.

[proverbialwisdom]

8. More.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2015/02/04/383789385/most-people-getting-measles-are-adults-time-for-a-shot

Most People Getting Measles Are Adults. Time For A Shot?
FEBRUARY 04, 2015 3:10 PM ET
by PONCIE RUTSCH

Most of the 92 cases of measles confirmed in California are among adults — more than 62 percent. Maybe they or their parents chose not to vaccinate, or maybe those people are allergic to one of the ingredients in the measles vaccine.

But it's also possible that a few of those adults happened to slip through the cracks when the measles vaccine first came to the public.

When doctors began administering the vaccine in 1963, they recommended that only people born after 1957 receive the vaccine. They assumed that people born in 1957 or before had immunity because they'd had the measles. That wasn't a particular stretch, since around then 3 to 4 million people fell ill with the disease each year.

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http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2015/02/suspected_case_of_measles_reported_at_princeton_un.html

Suspected case of measles reported at Princeton University as additional tests are conducted
By Nicole Mulvaney | Times of Trenton
on February 18, 2015 at 5:22 PM, updated February 18, 2015 at 7:14 PM

PRINCETON — Princeton University received a report of an undergraduate student with a suspected case of measles, though that student has recovered and is no longer contagious, officials said.

University officials notified students, faculty members and staff on Wednesday after preliminary results were received Tuesday. Additional tests are being conducted and expected within the next few days.

The university is not disclosing the student's identifying factors, including sex and age, due to privacy concerns, spokesman Martin Mbugua said. He did say that the student had been vaccinated for measles.

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MORE:

http://patch.com/new-jersey/princeton/suspected-case-measles-princeton-university-0
http://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S42/42/90O68/index.xml?section=topstories

http://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S42/43/90M22/index.xml

Princeton faculty, staff updated on suspected measles case
Posted February 19, 2015; 07:15 p.m.

by the Office of Communications

All members of the Princeton University faculty and staff received the following information Thursday, Feb. 19, regarding the case of a student who contracted a suspected case of measles. The message was sent by Lianne Sullivan-Crowley, vice president for human resources; Deborah Prentice, dean of the faculty; John Kolligian Jr., executive director of University Health Services; and Peter Johnsen, M.D., director of Medical Services at University Health Services.

As directed by the town of Princeton Health Department, Princeton University notified certain members of the faculty and staff on Thursday, Feb. 19, that they must provide proof of protection against measles. Those notified were born after Dec. 31, 1956, and were in buildings that a student who contracted a suspected case of measles visited while he may have been contagious.

The University took this action after the New Jersey Department of Health recommended and the municipal health department required that anyone who may have been exposed not work on campus until they prove they are protected against measles. Proof can be provided by submitting immunization records or by getting a blood test that is available through Employee Health Services or an individual’s physician.

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More than 99.5 percent of the graduate and undergraduate students have been vaccinated. The University has contacted undergraduate and graduate students who have not been fully immunized. Some campus services may be affected due to reduced staffing over the next few days.

Please visit the measles page on the University's emergency management website for further information and updates.