I got an alarming letter emailed to me from the Department of Health warning parents about a potentially deadly disease spreading across schools in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
According to the letter sent to parents of children in Superior Schools from the Douglas County Department of Health and Human Services, the United States is seeing a sharp increase in the number of measles cases and outbreaks, as of April, the number of those cases in 2024 has already surpassed the 2023 number.
The letter said, "While we have not had a confirmed case in Douglas County, Wisconsin does have its first confirmed case in Dane County."
What Should Parents Do to Stop the Spread of Measles ?
Measles is highly contagious and can cause brain damage, deafness, and even death, so it's very serious and there is no cure, so that's why officials are asking that parents check immunization records to make sure kids are up-to-date on the MMR vaccine. About 75% of the cases are kids, and half of those are under the age of 5 with more than half of all cases resulting in hospitalization.
How to Prevent Measles?
The Douglas County Department of Health and Human Services says that 32% or more than 1,000 elementary school-age children, and 20% or around 700 middle and high school-aged children are not fully immunized against measles. Kids generally get two doses of the MMR vaccine, one between 12 and 15 months and the second dose between 4 and 6 years old, this is the best protection against disease according to the Department of Health.
What is Measles?
Measles is an airborne illness that can result in a severe rash, symptoms include a runny nose, cough, fever, white spots in the mouth and eventually a rash that starts on the face and spreads across the body. The illness can cause weakening of the immune system for weeks or possibly years.
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