Measles Outbreak in Memphis Has Officials Worried

In the wake of a rapid threefold increase in confirmed measles cases, Shelby County health officials Monday stepped up their efforts to control the emerging outbreak, while at least one hospital began screening patients for the highly contagious viral infection.

The Health Department has confirmed six cases of measles across the county, up from two as of Friday. The cases involve a “widely diverse” group of patients in terms of age, gender and place of residence, said Dr. Helen Morrow, the department’s health officer.

With the newest cases, the county apparently has more confirmed measles cases than the entire rest of the nation. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention listed four cases nationwide as of April 1 and “is not aware” of any others in addition to the newly reported ones in Shelby County, CDC press officer Kristen Nordlund said in an email.

Measles, largely preventable through a vaccine administered to most children by the time they enter school, begins with a fever, runny nose and coughing, followed by a rash that spreads from the head down the body. It usually causes only a minor illness, but 1 in 4 cases leads to hospitalization and 1 out of every 1,000 patients dies.

Measles had been considered eradicated in the U.S. by the year 2000, but the refusal of some people to get vaccinated, or have their children vaccinated, has led to occasional outbreaks since then.

Prior to the current outbreak, there were only (continue reading at Commercial Appeal)

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