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Is the Minnesota measles outbreak ending? Officials see hopeful signs

Saint Paul Pioneer Press - 5/31/2017

May 31--The number of new measles cases in Minnesota has not risen in 13 days, giving health officials hope that the outbreak could be nearing its end.

The Minnesota Department of Health's daily tally on the outbreak remained at 68 Tuesday, where it has been much of the past two weeks. In fact, it dropped one when a Ramsey County case a few days ago tested negative.

But optimistic health officials still urge caution and vaccinations. The Health Department does expect the number of infected to rise as symptoms begin to show for those few who contracted the disease after prevention and control efforts began.

On Tuesday, Children's Minnesota, for example, was awaiting the results of nine more measles tests from the Memorial Day weekend, said Patsy Stinchfield, infection control director.

The state would have to go two full incubation periods -- at 21 days each -- without a single positive case before the outbreak is declared over.

OUTREACH EFFORTS

While most Minnesotans are immune -- either from having been vaccinated or having had the disease -- fear related to misinformation about vaccine risks has led to a decline in vaccination rates, according to health officials.

The outbreak has hit the Somali-Minnesotan community hardest.

Most of the reported measles infections are located in Hennepin County, with three cases counted in Ramsey. Since the outbreak began, officials have stepped up prevention efforts, reached out to those who may have been exposed and touted the importance of vaccinations.

With the outbreak heaviest in the Somali community, health officials worried the disease could spread further in gatherings for the month of Ramadan, which began Friday.

"We continue to partner with and provide faith leaders messages to take to Somali-Minnesotans throughout Ramadan," Stinchfield said.

The disease is easily transmitted through the air, and those who have contracted the disease might not realize their fever and cough constitute symptoms of measles until the characteristic rash shows up days later.

Kris Ehresmann, Minnesota's infectious disease director, said that as school is ending, kids could cease to be exposed to those carrying measles. But she worried that health officials would have "a more difficult time" disseminating information to families of children who attend summer day care at more informal settings.

COMMUNITY RESPONDS

Stinchfield said as director of the measles response at Children's, she has talked to nearly all of the families of the 20 hospitalized patients, and is heartened by an uptick in support for vaccinations in the Somali and broader communities.

"The parents see how dangerous and difficult the measles disease is," Stinchfield said, adding parents tell her, "'This is a nightmare, this is horrible. I wouldn't want my child or any other child to go through this. If I had to do it over again, I would've vaccinated."

Many parents are also taking in their children to get vaccinated, which has a positive impact on the population's overall immunity, according to Ehresmann and Stinchfield. The more people vaccinated, the fewer who can contract and transmit the diseases.

"Many, many kinds of parents are realizing that you take a risk when you elect not to vaccinate," Stinchfield said. "And it's children who have to bear that burden."

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(c)2017 the Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minn.)

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