After a second measles case in Kentucky this year, public health officials are urging vaccinations for the highly infectious and potentially deadly disease. According to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, a non-U.S. resident child traveling through the state tested positive in March. Woodford County Public Health Director Cassie Prather said the vaccine works.
“The vaccine is the safest, most effective way to prevent measles. It’s been around for several years. In fact, we had considered this eradicated because of the efficacy of the vaccine.”
A cabinet news release said the child was treated with strict safety protocols and there are no related cases or risks of exposure. New statistics show the immunization rate for Kentucky kindergartners the lowest in seven years and well behind the national average. Again, Cassie Prather:
“This is getting real. I didn’t think we would be heading in this direction, or at least I’d hoped not, but this is actually just a good example of (how) we’re taking steps back.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the year 2000, measles was declared eradicated in the U.S. An April 24 CDC report shows 884 confirmed cases this year – three times as many as all last year.
