Twelfth case of measles confirmed
By: North County Times | ∞
SAN DIEGO -- A 6-year-old child has tested positive for measles, bringing the total number of cases in a countywide outbreak to 12, county health officials said Tuesday.
Two additional suspect cases are pending.
The 6-year-old child is a schoolmate of the first child reported to have the disease and the sibling of an 8-year-old who county health officials last week said may have spread the virus during a visit to Whole Foods Market in Hillcrest and later at a Cirque du Soleil performance at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.
The 6-year-old has been on home quarantine since the outbreak began in early February and poses no risk to the general public, county Public Health Officer Wilma Wooten said.
The best way to prevent measles is by getting a measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, county health officials said. Children should receive the first dose at 12 months and a second dose between ages 4 to 6.
Measles causes a high fever, coughing, a runny nose and watery eyes, followed by a rash. Symptoms usually last one to two weeks. The disease is contagious from four days before the rash appears to four days afterward.
For more information about measles and the MMR vaccine, call the county immunization branch at (619) 692-8661 or visit www.sdiz.org.
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Hold patient 0's parents responsible wrote on Feb 20, 2008 8:30 PM:Because of their luddite world view and superstition 12 people have fallen ill of a completely preventable disease. Never mind how many immune compromised... people have been exposed who are wondering if they are in for what could be a lethal disease.
These parents are at least as culpable as Christian Scientists who refuse to allow modern medical care for their sick children, and much more of a danger to society. If you don't believe in modern medicine and technology, then go somewhere that doesn't have it. You have no right to expose the rest of us to the consequences of your medievalism. Immunize or get out of here!
Vaccinate. wrote on Feb 22, 2008 8:06 AM:Parents, Please vaccinate your kids. There is no mercury in vaccinations anymore. The risk of not vaccinating, way out weighs the risk of your children getting these diseases.
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