Nashville, Tenn. (WTVF) – The World Health Organization warns that measles is spreading rapidly around the world.
The WHO reported a 79 percent increase in cases and a 43 percent increase in deaths by 2022.
With more than 306,000 cases reported, the agency expects measles deaths to rise over last year.
The disease causes a rash and other common symptoms of the disease such as coughing, sneezing and runny nose.
Fortunately, no measles cases were reported in Tennessee from 2020 to 2022, but just last month a case was confirmed to have traveled through Northern Kentucky International Airport.
An elementary school in Florida is now on alert after four confirmed cases of measles.
Measles was declared eradicated in the United States 20 years ago
Health experts believe that declining vaccination rates are affecting herd immunity and contributing to the rise in cases. Herd immunity requires 98 percent of the population to be vaccinated against the disease.
This is worrisome because measles is one of the most quickly and easily transmitted diseases.
“If I had measles and I had a cough and it was in the air right now, it would be in the air for 30 minutes,” UC Health, Dr. said Michelle Baron, senior medical director of infection prevention. “So you come into the grocery store after I did, and you're not vaccinated, and then the measles is hanging around in the air for another 30 minutes, an hour later. Then you breathe it in and you can get it. And so the number of people for the attack rate, most of the things we're used to where you're with someone. Maybe more than that.”
The CDC The first vaccination is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months.
The vaccine is available weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Lentz Public Health Center in Nashville on Charlotte Ave.
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I have two boys in elementary school, so as the school voucher debate takes center stage again – I really wanted to understand this issue. Arizona started its school voucher program 13 years ago and was the first state in the nation to offer universal school vouchers. That's what Governor Lee is proposing in two years. I leaned on the expertise of an investigative reporter in Arizona—and he came up with facts, figures, and plenty of insight. This statement gave me a lot to think about as a mom and a taxpayer. I think you will too.
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