Iowa family compelled to absent from work for multiple weeks due to their baby's measles exposure at a daycare, underscoring the warning: "One case can lead to significant disruption."
In the small city of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, families were notified late on Friday, July 11, that their infants had been exposed to measles at a local day care centre. The news sent shockwaves through the community, prompting immediate action from local health authorities.
Dr. Dustin Arnold, the chief medical officer at UnityPoint Health-Cedar Rapids, took charge of a command center that administered immunoglobulin (IG) shots to eight babies, including nine-month-old Hal Martin, over the following days. The clinic, which was hastily pulled together at the last minute, was a testament to the urgency of the situation.
The CDC and other health organisations have long recommended several measures to protect families, especially those with unvaccinated infants, during measles outbreaks. For infants aged 6 through 11 months, an early dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is an option, but these infants will still require two additional doses after they turn 12 months old to ensure full protection.
Since infants under 6 months are too young to receive the MMR vaccine, families are advised to avoid crowded areas and maintain good hygiene practices to minimise exposure. Ensuring high vaccination rates in the community is also crucial for protecting unvaccinated infants. When more than 95% of a community is vaccinated, herd immunity can help prevent the spread of measles.
If there is any suspicion of measles exposure, infants should be promptly isolated, and specimens should be collected and reported to public health authorities. For infants who are exposed to measles and have not received any vaccine, Immunoglobulin (IG) can be administered within six days of exposure to help prevent or attenuate the infection.
Measles can be life-threatening, and 13% of patients need to be hospitalised because of the infection. A 2021 study found that the therapy is highly effective in protecting exposed newborns from getting sick. The Martin family's situation in Cedar Rapids illustrates the importance of vaccination, as a single measles case can set off waves of impact.
Unfortunately, the impact of measles has been felt across the nation this year. Three people, including two young girls in Texas, have died of measles this year. Each measles case has the potential to expose hundreds or even thousands of other people, especially those too young to be vaccinated or with weak immune systems.
As of Wednesday, the CDC reported 1,309 cases of measles in 39 states, surpassing a level not seen since the virus was declared eliminated in 2000. The number of cases has highlighted the importance of vaccination programs and the need for communities to maintain high vaccination rates to protect the most vulnerable members of society.
In Cedar Rapids, Martha Martin, a resident, has had to use all her remaining vacation days for the year due to her son Hal being exposed to measles at day care and being unable to return for almost a month. When Martha Martin returns to work, her husband will need to take several unpaid days off to stay home with Hal.
Hal received emergency shots of immunoglobulin (IG), an antibody that helps the immune system fight off infections, due to being too young for the measles vaccine. The babies who received the injections had been exposed six days earlier, on Monday, July 7. The CDC recommends quarantine for 28 days in situations like Hal's.
Dr. Ana Montanez, a pediatrician at Texas Tech Physicians in Lubbock, Texas, has cared for many families during the recent measles outbreak in West Texas. She noted that many hard-working families may not have a month's savings of salary to stay home during such situations. The situation in Cedar Rapids serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by families during measles outbreaks and the importance of vaccination programs to prevent such outbreaks from occurring.
- To minimize exposure and protect infants, families are advised to avoid crowded areas and maintain good hygiene practices.
- For babies under 6 months, Immunoglobulin (IG) can be administered within six days of measles exposure to help prevent or lessen the infection.
- When more than 95% of a community is vaccinated, herd immunity can help prevent the spread of measles.
- The Martin family's situation in Cedar Rapids highlights the financial challenges faced by families during measles outbreaks, emphasizing the importance of vaccination programs and saving for potential emergencies.
