The first step to an effective
emergency plan in regards to public health is education.
Communicable diseases can affect the general health of the
populace. Please take the time to educate yourself about these
diseases deemed most preventable and those diseases in our
community that could easily reach emergent and epidemic levels
if not kept in check.
Any
individual suspected of having measles (generalized rash
lasting greater than or equal to three days, temperature
>101o Fahrenheit, and cough or runny nose or red
eyes) or any fever in a person who has been recently exposed
to measles, should go home and stay home until measles can be
excluded from the diagnosis. This and other control activities
should not b delayed. Call your doctor, do not go to the
clinic or emergency room, because the virus can stay in the
air for as long as 3 hours.
Persons with
measles are contagious from one to two days prior to onset of
symptoms (about four days before rash onset) to four days
after the appearance of the rash. The incubation period is 7
to 18 days, and averages 10 days to onset of fever and 14 days
to the onset of rash.
To prevent measles,
children (and some adults) should be vaccinated with two doses
of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Children
should be given the first dose of MMR vaccine at 12 to 15
months of age. The second dose can be given four weeks later,
but is usually given before the start of kindergarten at 4 to
6 years of age. "Recommended Immunization Schedules" can be
obtained at: .
Pertussis (Whooping
cough) Pertusssis (whooping cough) is very
contagious and can cause serious illness - especially in
infamts who are too young to be fully vaccinated. Make sure
your infants and young children get their recommended five
shots on time. Adolescent and adult vaccination is also
important, especailly for families with new infants.
