thank you Richard 19 states are not now
dealing with the largest measles
outbreak in five years as we mentioned
earlier in the show New York City has
declared a public health emergency
requiring mandatory vaccinations the CDC
reports that there have now been 465
confirmed cases across the United States
that number is up 78 from just last week
here are all of the states affected by
this outbreak they're all in red in the
past week the CDC has confirmed
Florida's first case at least three
cases have now been confirmed in Georgia
as well dr. Pollock Pauline roll who is
the medical director of the Florida
Department of Health here in Duval
County is joining us this morning thank
you for being here I do appreciate it
should we be worried here in Duval
County well we're seeing outbreaks
across the country so definitely is sure
to show up on our shores at some point
we only had like one measles case and
since 2014 and that was acquired abroad
we're in a global society people are
traveling and so we almost but we should
always be vigilant and and it's are
these cases that we're seeing
specifically because these are children
as an example who have not been
vaccinated with the MMR yes children who
are vaccinated are most at risk for
getting measles absolutely and this is
highly contagious how does it spread yes
coughing is needs me to the air those
droplets on touching contaminated
surfaces it can exist for hours in the
room after an infected person has left
the room so certainly it is highly
contagious which makes sense to sue to
understand then what we're seeing I mean
just that one county in Rockland it's
like 165 then you have in New York City
which is just south east of Rockland
you've got you know 300 cases are you
surprised to see it spread so quickly or
not because it's so highly contagious
because the level of contagion it it
just hops from one person to person and
and it's important for folks to get
vaccinated two in the series one in
which between 12 and 15 months old and
the other between four and six years old
is the children who that need to be
protected and they will help protect the
rest of the community most a lot of
adults have gotten those vaccinations as
children and so they tend to have
immunity or if they're old enough they
might have been exposed to measles as a
child and survived it
and so definitely it was important for
people to get vaccinated it's because we
we have said this I've had you here
sitting here so many times I can't even
count reminding parents about how
important is to get their children
vaccinated but there are still some in
our community and many obviously in New
York who feel and still believe that
discredited medical report that suggests
that MMR causes autism do you think that
that's directly related to why we are
seeing that this measles is that bad
information spreading yes certainly
people still believe that also a lot of
people don't know someone personally who
died from it but death can't happen as a
result of measles and people forget that
most people who die of it have other
complications such as pneumonia or a
swelling of the brain known as
encephalitis also what people don't
understand is seven to ten years later
after you've had the measles you could
develop a CNS a central nervous system
disease that could lead to death even
years later after you've recovered from
the measles and do you think that that's
part of the problem here is people think
that what measles you know they breakout
is kind of a rash it's uncomfortable for
a couple of days but you get over it I
think that we have to remind people also
that by not doing that and then
spreading this there's the children the
infants who are not old enough to get
these and then also those what with
compromised immune systems are those the
ones most at risk of maybe potentially
dying yes there's something we always
talk about that getting vaccinated is
not just for you it protects you but it
also protects those who are not able to
get vaccinated like you mentioned like
immunocompromised folks or children who
are too young to get the vaccine like I
said 12 to 15 months of ages the first
time it's really recommended and so for
your two month old your two week old who
has not developed the immune system to
be able to fight off infections at the
level that a 21 22 23 year old can
certainly is at risk so I just want to
make it very very clear also is there
any you know solid you know information
any fact that would suggest that the MMR
causes autism in children there is none
and there have been subsequent studies
prior to their Wakefield study years ago
that have proven that the vaccine is
relatively safe of course you have side
effects rash at the site fever pain
things of those nature is a nature
fairly common also there are folks who
might have allergic reactions but that
happens with any medication folks
something as simple as Tylenol or motrin
definitely can cause the same scientists
and and and just very quickly the
warning signs then of measles these
runny nose cough rash pinkeye fever okay
pay attention to those now we're seeing
this outbreak and it could spread more
to our city or into our state dr. roll
thank you for being here it's important
information and it's all about helping
keep you and your family self safe the
health department does offer
vaccinations at four different centers
from downtown all the way out to the
beaches walk-in services are available
we have a full list of locations and
times on our website news for Jax comm
it is covered by health insurance
correct and the health department offers
to those who are in need they are free
for children there is no reason not to
based on money get your child vaccinated
you can call for more information by
dialing two five three one four two zero
again find that on news for Jack's comm
we'll be right back