5 States Fight Measles Outbreak
March 26, 2019
Five states are currently reporting measles outbreaks in 2019, almost nearing to last year’s total. The outbreaks have been found in New York State, Washington, Texas, Illinois, and in California.
Measles is a highly contagious and extremely rare viral infection that spreads through the air, coughs, sneezes, and pretty much all of the symptoms of measles. Usually, kids under the age of five are most at risk. 90 percent of people who have interactions with the infected will catch it and since the incubation period lasts 2 weeks without any symptoms, it spreads like wildfire. Even with vaccines and preventative procedures, the disease still kills more than 100,000 people a year, most of those, kids.
It is a 314 nationwide case as of March 21, it is inching the 372 for all of last year’s cases.
In Rockland County, NY, where 155 cases were confirmed on Wednesday, the County Executive Ed Day, announced a state of emergency and will be banning any kind of unvaccinated person under the age of 18 from appearing in any public place.
“This is about healthy people being quarantined and barred from public places,” said Rita Palma, one of the protesters. “People have a right to choose for their own children and make their own decisions.”