Should you be tested for measles?

STATEWIDE — Families worried about the nation’s accelerating measles outbreak are now testing their blood at clinics to make sure they’re immune to the illness that’s triggered a warning by the nation’s top doctors.  

So far this year, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has tracked 555 cases across the country.  Health officials say severe cases of the highly contagious illness can cause children to go blind or deaf and they predict we could see the highest number of cases in decades. 

WHO SHOULD CONSIDER THE MEASLES BLOOD TEST?

Anyone born between 1957-1971

Pregnant women who are unable to get vaccinated

Anyone unsure of immunity and want to protect family, friends and coworkers

This blood test is especially important for folks in their mid-30s and older. Even if they were vaccinated as children, their immunities may have worn off and they’ll need to get the blood test to know for sure if they need measles shot.

This is all so scary because there are many folks who don’t vaccinate their children.

These children are highly contagious. You can catch measles just by walking in a room with someone who has measles — even after they left the room because measles lives on dry surfaces for hours.

MEASLES FAST FACTS

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed 555 measles cases to date this year. That’s 50 percent higher than total number recorded last year.

The CDC says before the measles vaccine in the 1960s, the United States recorded nearly a half-million cases each year. 

The measles can be especially dangerous for children.  They can develop encephalitis and convulsions and can be left deaf, blind or with intellectual disabilities.