With summer camps and activities gearing up for the year, the Kane County Health Department is urging vaccination and other precautions to protect children against measles.
Warning that measles is highly contagious, the health department noted in a news release that measles cases are continuing to occur across the United States and in Illinois, and are often linked to travel and lower vaccination coverage.
“Whether in the classroom or at camp, children are in close contact with one another, which makes it easier for illnesses like measles to spread,” Michael Isaacson, the health department’s executive director, said in the news release. “Staying up to date on vaccinations and practicing good health habits helps keep kids safe year-round.”
Measles spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, according to the news release from the health department, and can linger in a space for up to two hours. Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a rash that often begins on the face and spreads.
Among the recommendations from the health department are receiving the measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccine. According to the department, two doses of the vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles. It recommends children receive their first dose at 12-15 months, and a second dose at 4-6 years of age.
Maintaining high vaccination coverage, according to the health department, protects not only individuals but also those who cannot be vaccinated, like infants and individuals with certain medical conditions. Further information about immunizations is available on the health department’s website at: https://www.kanehealth.com/Pages/Immunizations.aspx.
The department is encouraging parents and caregivers to ensure their children are up to date on all required school vaccinations. They are also advising practices like teaching children proper handwashing and respiratory etiquette, keeping children home if they are sick, especially with a fever or rash, notifying the school if a child is diagnosed with or exposed to measles, checking with a health care provider if unsure about vaccination status and keeping a copy of their child’s vaccination records easily accessible.
And, as families prepare for summer camps, sports and other programs, the department is recommending parents review and update vaccination records before registering, schedule any needed immunizations early, inform camp staff of any health concerns or symptoms and pack things like hand sanitizer and tissues for their child.
The department, in the news release, also encouraged camp operators to review guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and to ensure staff are prepared to recognize symptoms of measles and respond quickly. The department also encouraged reporting measles and other communicable diseases to the health department at: https://www.kanehealth.com/Pages/Communicable-Disease.aspx.
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