HUNTINGTON Ƶ Although cases in the United States for both measles and the HSN1 avian flu are on the rise, Cabell-Huntington Health Department Director of Epidemiology Mikaela Earl said West Virginia residents are at low risk of being infected.
Still, the CDC recommends taking several precautions to prevent the contraction and spread of either diseases.
According to from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the total number of reported measles cases in the U.S. is at 128 in 28 states, including Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York City, New York State, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia.
The CDC reports 55% of patients with measles were hospitalized. The largest portion, 57% of the cases, were reported in children under 5 years of age, and 81% were either unvaccinated or the status of their vaccinations are unknown.
Last week, the West Virginia Department of Health confirmed the first case of measles in the state in the last 15 years in Monongalia County. Since then, the state health office reported 152 more people in 30 West Virginia counties may have been exposed.
According to Ann Moore, the Department of Health director of communications, Cabell County was not included in those who may have been exposed. The impacted counties, she said, may include Berkeley, Braxton, Brooke, Doddridge, Gilmer, Grant, Greenbrier, Hampshire, Hancock, Kanawha, Logan, Marion, Marshall, Mason, McDowell, Mercer, Mineral, Monongalia, Ohio, Pendleton, Pleasants, Preston, Putnam, Randolph, Roane, Summers, Taylor, Wetzel and Wood.
According to the CDC, about 95% of West Virginians are vaccinated against measles.
Earl said, although most West Virginians are already vaccinated and public risk is low, the state is also going through a Ƶvaccine hesitancy.Ƶ Still, the state health office 90% of people who are exposed to measles without having been vaccinated will become infected.
Earl said the first MMR dose is 93% effective at preventing the disease, while the first combined with the second dose is 97% effective. She said children under 5 years of age are at a higher risk because children typically do not receive the second MMR dose until they are between the ages of 4 and 6.
Earl said she recommends staying up to date on both MMR doses, which she said are available at the Cabell-Huntington Health Department at 703 7th Ave.
Ƶ of last week, the reported all 50 states have also seen wild birds infected with the HSN1 avian flu, more commonly known as the bird flu, while 48 states saw outbreaks in poultry and 34 dairy herds were affected in nine states. The closest dairy herd outbreak to Cabell County was in Ohio.
ƵRight now, thereƵs a little bit more of a focus on (the bird flu) because the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently recorded some detection of the avian flu in U.S. dairy cattle in multiple states. We have not seen it in cattle Ƶ the CDC is monitoring it,Ƶ Earl said.
So far, only two cases have been reported in humans, including one who had been exposed to infected dairy cows and another who was exposed to infected poultry, the CDC reported. Both patients were isolated and treated for the flu.
Earl said the bird flu is more easily transmissible through poultry than cattle, although there have been no reports of human-to-human transmission. She said the disease can spread through the respiratory system when handling sick or dead animals.
Earl said, while the public risk for bird flu is also very low, farmers have been asked to make sure they wear proper PPE and watch for transmission among animals. She also said the CDC recommends avoiding any sick or dead animals or surfaces contaminated with animal feces, litter, raw milk or other byproducts without wearing proper protections.
Earl said to watch out for unpasteurized milk or raw cheeses and undercooked food.
