The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is encouraging parents and caregivers to make sure their children are vaccinated against measles after more cases of the disease were confirmed in the metro area last week. That outbreak is associated with a daycare setting in the metro Atlanta area where the children were either unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated. DPH is working to identify additional close contacts of these cases. So far, there have been no confirmed cases of measles in NE Georgia. Measles is very contagious and spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The measles virus can stay in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person has left the room. The MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine can prevent measles and rubella. The vaccine is safe and effective, and parents with questions about the vaccine or the vaccination schedule can consult their physician. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children receive their first dose of MMR vaccine between 12 and 15 months of age and a second dose between 4 and 6 years of age. Measles symptoms typically appear 7 to 14 days after exposure, including high fever, cough, runny nose, and watery eyes. Then, a rash of tiny red spots appears. It starts at the head and spreads to the rest of the body. People with measles symptoms should contact their healthcare provider immediately. DO NOT go to the doctor’s office, the hospital, or a public health…
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