JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- On July 16, 2019, a case of measles was confirmed by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services in the Kenai Peninsula region. The department encourages individuals who live in the area or who have traveled there recently to check with health care professionals as a preventive measure.
The 673d Aerospace Medicine Squadron states the risk of contracting measles on the military installation is low due to the high vaccination rate among military members and children enrolled in Child and Youth Services and Anchorage School District.
“The JBER community vaccination is 100% for all military personnel, retirees, veterans, medical personnel, CYS employees and anyone born before 1957,” said Tech. Sgt. Jeromy Jordan, 673d AMDS community health section chief. “This highlights the importance of ensuring everyone in the family household is vaccinated.”
Those at risk of getting measles are children under one year of age, unvaccinated individuals and international travelers.
“Measles is a common disease in many parts of the world such as Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and Africa,” Jordan said. “Most measles cases in the U.S. result from unvaccinated international travelers becoming infected in foreign countries, returning home and spreading the disease to unvaccinated individuals in their local community who have no protection against the disease.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some of the more common measles symptoms include a high fever; cough; runny nose; red, watery eyes; and a rash.
The CDC’s website emphasizes measles can spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It is so contagious that if one person has it, nine out of 10 people around them will also become infected if they are not protected.
“Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent measles; the disease spreads quickly among individuals who are not immune,” Jordan added. “One dose of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine is 93 percent effective against measles; two doses of MMR vaccine are 97 percent effective.”
Beside getting the MMR vaccination, Jordan encourages everyone to take preventive measures such as washing your hands often with soap and water, refraining from touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with your hands unless they are clean, covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and avoiding close contact – kissing, hugging, sharing eating utensils – when people are sick.
If individuals suspect they have been exposed or have the measles they can call the JBER appointment (580-2778) line and request a telephone consult with their primary care manager.
“If a provider suspect’s measles during a telephone consult, the patient will be directed on the necessary actions to take for further assessment,” Jordan said. “If you do not have immunity against measles and have been exposed to the disease, talk with your doctor about getting the MMR vaccine.”
The JBER Immunizations Clinic is open weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. and can administer the MMR vaccine. They are closed every third Thursday of each month for training.
TriCare beneficiaries traveling overseas can stop by at the Public Health Flight to receive up-to-date information about diseases in that area, as well as recommendation on location specific immunization and medication.
For more information about measles, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at https://www.cdc.gov/features/measles/index.html.