HHS HealthBeat (May 20, 2008)

Incoming measles

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Valuable goods are not the only things transferable around the world.

At a major international youth sporting event held last August in the United States, seven people were diagnosed with measles.

In America, measles cases have dwindled in number because of vaccinations, but it’s still a worldwide concern.

The outbreak occurred when a child from another country contracted the virus in his homeland, but began experiencing the symptoms upon arrival in the states to participate in the sporting event.

Measles symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, pink eye and a skin rash.

There is no treatment for measles, but it can be prevented.  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researcher Jane Seward says:

“The best way to prevent outbreaks in the United States is to maintain our current high rates of vaccine coverage.” (6 seconds)

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: May, 19 2008