County health officials are warning the public to get vaccinated against measles now, as they work to forestall a widespread outbreak of the virulent virus.
The number of cases in California has risen more than tenfold this year, to 36 as of Thursday, and has climbed even more in Orange County, despite the belief until recently that the disease had been virtually eradicated in North America. To date, 21 cases have been reported in Orange County this year, compared with four total over the preceding five years.
Public health officials are investigating every report of measles and, in some cases, sending children home from school and daycare for two weeks if they?ve been exposed in close contact and have not been immunized.
So far, only a few students have been sent home, but that number is expected to rise, especially in parts of Orange County where many parents have chosen not to have their children vaccinated.
An undiagnosed measles case was in the urgent care while we were there. What followed was a long list of directions and what to watch for. And directions to call the health department if any symptoms occur to get directions where to go etc and not go to your regular doctor. And of course, onset is typically 7-12 but could occur anywhere in the 21 day window. Then the frustration kicks in, it's Friday night. Health Department, they're closed until Monday. It's already after hours for our pediatricians office, so on call 'emergency' service after hours, which the on call Doctor called back promptly to answer questions, props to Irvine Pediatrics! The notification from urgent care was done by a nurse, so no real info there other than the script to read and she was onviously trying to get through a long list of people to call.
