HOUSTON – The College of American Pathologists came together recently to discuss this measles outbreak and address some concerns.
SEE ALSO: Houston infant contracts measles after international travel
First of all, they believe the case count of measles in Texas is an underestimation of how much of the disease is actually out there.
“What the true value is, I think is still hard to determine right now,” said Dr. Ben Bradley, College of American Pathologists Microbiology Committee.
Measles is the most contagious virus known to man. According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, for every infected person, they will transmit it to 18 others.
As we watch the outbreak happening in West Texas, I asked experts if they were concerned about the virus finding its way to a more populated area like Houston.
“Within this huge city, you have so many different cultures, populations, and people that that spread of vaccine coverage is not going to be homogenous,” Dr. Bradley added. “Maybe you say Houston is 90% or 95% [immunized] but there are going to be pockets. There are going to be groups of people there where it is 25%, 30% [immunized] and if somebody is, you know, having a school event with somebody from this population, if they’re having social events, this is such a transmissible virus that even in passing, folks who are not vaccinated against this could be at risk for developing this kind of infection.”
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Of the unvaccinated, like small children, there’s a higher risk of dying. Vaccines are not recommended until at least a year old with a second dose administered between four and six years old.
“If you get vaccinated, you’re helping protect those as well who aren’t able to get vaccinated,” explained Dr. Donald Karcher, President, College of American Pathologists
They warn concerned parents. Social media posts are encouraging the use of vitamin A. The pathologists say that the supplement is used as a treatment. However, it is not something that should be used to prevent infection.
“Vitamin A does not diminish the acquiring the infection,” said Dr. Karcher. “It does, apparently in children at least, is proof that it does diminish the mortality of children that have if it’s appropriately administered. One concern I know that I’ve read about is that potential overdose of vitamin A by the making of a can be toxic when it’s given an excess amount.”
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There was an additional case identified in Houston this weekend in an infant who was hospitalized. That makes three cases in Houston just this year. However, they are associated with international travel and not the West Texas outbreak.
