The number of measles cases in the US this year is approaching levels not seen in 25 years.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says this year’s total is nearly 700 cases.
South Dakota state epidemiologist Dr. Josh Clayton says measles is a serious, highly contagious respiratory disease.
Clayton says the MMR vaccine is very effective.
He says measles has a low mortality rate.
Clayton says the time between exposure and symptom onset is usually 7 to 14 days.
Nearly half of the states in the US have reported cases of measles, but South Dakota isn’t one of them. The resurgence of the deadly disease is largely attributed to misinformation that is turning parents against vaccines. The largest number of infected people are in New York.
Hear more from Clayton in one of the latest KGFX Beyond the Mic podcasts. Subscribe for free through Spotify, Google Play, Podbean or iTunes.
Please visit the CDC website for more information, including a list of states with cases: https://www.cdc.gov/measles/index.html.
