The measles outbreak that began in California has now spread to Michigan and the number of cases has increased to 95 in eight states as well as Mexico.
There are now 79 cases of measles in California, 52 of which have been linked directly to Disneyland during December and January. One case confirmed in Michigan has been linked to the California outbreak, and there have been cases confirmed in Arizona (5), Utah (3), Washington state (2), Colorado (1), Oregon (1), Nebraska (1) and Mexico (1), according to the Los Angeles Times.
The patients in California range from 7 months to 70 years of age. Of 42 patients for whom the vaccination status is known, 34 were unvaccinated. About 25% of patients in California have had to be hospitalized.
On Wednesday, Palm Desert High School in California banned dozens of non-vaccinated students from attending school over concern that a classmate may have contracted the illness, according to Reuters.
Earlier in the month, a school in Huntington Beach, California ordered non-vaccinated children to remain home, while officials in Arizona asked non-vaccinated children who were possibly exposed to stay home.
[quote text_size=”small” author=”– Debra Stevens” author_title=”Phoenix Children’s spokeswoman”]
If someone has chosen not to vaccinate their children or for some reason cannot vaccinate their children, they face a higher responsibility now to let their health care provider know in advance.
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Arizona is now monitoring about 1,000 people who may have been exposed to measles at a Phoenix-area medical center, including 200 children, according to the Huffington Post. Those who have not been vaccinated have been asked to stay home for 21 days.
The Arizona woman with a confirmed case of measles came into contact with a family that had traveled to Disneyland. The woman did not have symptoms like a rash when she visited the Phoenix Children’s East Valley Center.
