If measles are close to record levels in isolated areas, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging summer camps to check for all children’s vaccinations or documentation of immunity from previous infections.
If measles are close to record levels in isolated areas, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Encourage summer camp Check all children’s immunization or immunity documents from previous infection.
“I think there is growing concern about the possibility of additional outbreaks and spread, especially in setting vaccinations decline or decline rates,” said Dr. Alexandra Yons, a pediatric infectious disease physician at Children’s Hospital and an assistant professor at Children’s Hospital. “Nine out of 9 in 10 people who are not immune will develop measles when exposed to people who are actively ill.”
in release, The CDC said that measles could spread quickly as campers and staff spend a lot of time in close proximity to each other.
“There are a lot of kids in sleepway camps who are in very close contact,” Yonts said. “You probably have kids on the bus together and spend a lot of your time on your face. And because of things like measles, it’s very contagious.”
The CDC encouraged camps to maintain measles immune status documents for all campers, staff and volunteers, including medical and other exemptions. This information will help the health department identify people who are not immune to measles and provide post-exposure prevention.
Which children are at risk?
Yonts said that children who received the recommended two doses of measles vaccine are “deemed protected and have nothing else to do with healthy children who are immune-deficient or untreated.”
But for children who have not been vaccinated, “they are at a much higher risk of getting sick, they need to have a higher level of suspicion and may be eligible for treatments such as immunoglobulins in the event of exposure,” Yonts said.
CDC recommendations include informing campers, parents and staff about state, local and/or camp vaccine requirements before camping sessions begin.
“Since immunity is something that is necessary for schools a year, it makes sense, frankly, that summer camps also need the same level of protection,” Yonts said.
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