Measles Cases Confirmed in Connecticut

The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) announced on April 23, 2021, it has confirmed the second case of measles in a Fairfield County child. The infected child is a household contact of the child who contracted the first case of measles announced on April 9th. 

These are the first cases of measles in Connecticut since 2019. Most cases of measles are acquired or linked to international travel.

“The single best way to protect yourself and your children from measles is to be vaccinated,” said DPH Acting Commissioner Dr. Deidre Gifford in a media statement. “We must ensure we continue to protect our children from vaccine-preventable illnesses through on-time vaccination.”

Most Connecticut residents have been vaccinated since two doses of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is required to attend schools and colleges in Connecticut. According to the 2019-2020 survey, 96.2% of Connecticut students were vaccinated with MMR vaccine before kindergarten.

The measles outbreak in New York, New Jersey, and elsewhere during 2019 were traced to unvaccinated international travelers.

Furthermore, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States is at risk of measles' re-emergence.

In 2020, the Pan American Health Organization reported that about 14% fewer children received their measles vaccine than the year before.

CDC recommends all children get two doses of MMR vaccine. CDC also recommends that adults born after 1957 should receive at least one dose of MMR vaccine if they have never been vaccinated against measles.

In the USA, the M-M-R-II vaccine is commonly available.

Adults born in the U.S. before 1957 are considered immune to measles from past exposures.

Measles is a highly contagious disease that can spread quickly among unvaccinated people. Symptoms of measles generally begin 7-14 days after exposure to an infected person. A typical case of measles begins with mild to moderate fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and sore throat, says the DPH.