The U.S. now has at least 600 measles cases reported in 21 states, including Pennsylvania, according to an April 4 update issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 481 of these cases have been reported in the South Plains and Panhandle areas of Texas, with a second measles-related death of an unvaccinated child reported by the Texas Department of State Health Services April 6.
According to CDC guidelines, the measles-mumps-rubella vaccination remains the most important tool for preventing measles, a highly contagious viral infection.
St. Joe’s Student Health Center Director Eileen Bevilacqua, RN wrote in an email to The Hawk that “the risk of contracting measles after vaccination is very low. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective in preventing measles.”…