US will soon break record for measles cases in a year | TheHill - The Hill

The U.S. will soon break the record for the number of confirmed measles cases this year after health officials found dozens of new measles cases in the last week.

As of April 19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified 626 cases of measles in 22 states across the country, an increase of 71 cases and two additional states in the past week.

This is the greatest number of cases reported in the U.S. in the last five years, and the second highest number since measles was eliminated in 2000. The worst year for measles since then was 2014, when there were 667 cases.

In the coming weeks, 2019 confirmed case numbers will likely surpass 2014 levels, the CDC said.

The states that have reported cases to the CDC are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Texas, Tennessee and Washington.

The outbreaks are linked to unvaccinated travelers returning to the U.S. from countries where large measles outbreaks are occurring, such as Israel and Ukraine.

Public health officials, especially in New York City, have said they expect a spike in the number of cases confirmed in the next week because people traveled and spent time with extended family during Easter and Passover.

“Because of measles’ long incubation period, we know this outbreak will get worse before it gets better,” New York Health Commissioner Oxiris Barbot said last week.

New York City is home to the largest measles outbreak in the country, and cases primarily centered among Orthodox Jews living in certain neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens. As of Thursday, there have been 359 confirmed cases of measles in those areas.

The outbreak has prompted New York City May Bill de Blasio (D) to order mandatory vaccinations for required people living in specific ZIP codes in Brooklyn. If people don't comply, they are subject to a $1,000 fine. 

The current outbreak has primarily afflicted unvaccinated people and has led states to try to rewrite their laws regarding religious and personal vaccine exemptions.

For example, the majority of cases in New York are children under 18 years of age, and 45 cases are adults. Most of these measles cases were unvaccinated or had only one dose of the vaccine.

The anti-vaccine movement has been spreading disinformation about vaccines among vulnerable populations like New York’s Orthodox community, which has led to high rates of vaccine refusal and overall hesitancy.

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https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/439994-us-will-soon-break-record-for-measles-cases-this-year

2019-04-22 15:00:04Z
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U.S. measles cases surge as officials scramble to stop near-record outbreak - Washington Post

Measles, mumps and rubella vaccines. (Eric Risberg/AP)

April 22 at 10:00 AM

The United States is on track to surpass the record number of measles cases in a single year since the disease was declared eliminated in 2000, according to figures reported Monday. For the fourth week in a row, health officials have added dozens of new cases to the year’s list of confirmed ones, bringing the total to 626 — already the highest number in the past five years.

The number of people sickened by the highly contagious, potentially deadly disease increased by 71 during the third week of April, with 22 states reporting cases. In 2014, the United States had a record 667 cases, including one large outbreak primarily among unvaccinated Amish communities in Ohio that accounted for more than half of the cases that year.

Health officials said they expect 2019′s case counts to jump in the coming weeks because of increased disease spread during Easter and Passover gatherings. Officials in New York City, location of the largest outbreak in the country, are especially worried. At least 303 cases have been reported this year, virtually all in Brooklyn. New York City Health Commissioner Oxiris Barbot said she is bracing for an increase.

“Because of measles’ long incubation period, we know this outbreak will get worse before it gets better," she said last week.

The CDC figures, updated Monday, report cases as of April 18, before the start of the holidays.

The states that have reported cases to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Washington.

The outbreaks are linked to travelers who brought measles back from countries such as Israel, Ukraine and the Philippines, where large measles outbreaks are occurring.

The majority of people who have fallen ill were unvaccinated, officials said. In some communities, anti-vaccine activists have spread false claims about the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, fueling refusal or hesitancy among parents about immunizing their children. When many people in a community have not been vaccinated, the disease can spread quickly. It can cause serious complications among all age groups, especially young children, adults with weakened immune systems and the very elderly.

[Do I need another MMR vaccine shot and other measles questions answered]

The CDC defines an outbreak as three or more cases. In addition to New York City, there are outbreaks in California; Rockland County, N.Y.; New Jersey; and Michigan, where almost all 43 cases are linked to one man who traveled to the Detroit area from Brooklyn, unaware that he had measles.

California has 23 cases, including four in San Mateo County, which include an adult who visited Google headquarters in Mountainview, and 13 cases in Butte County in northern California, the region devastated by the most destructive wildfire in history.

In Washington state, 74 people contracted the infection, including 63 who were unvaccinated. Health officials are expected to declare that outbreak over if no more cases are reported by Wednesday. That’s two incubation periods (42 days) without new cases.

Read more:

Unaware he had measles, a man traveled from New York to Michigan, infecting 39 people

Parents of 3 NYC children face $1,000 penalty for violating measles order

They went to Mexico for surgery. They came back with a deadly superbug infection.

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2019/04/22/us-measles-cases-surge-officials-scramble-stop-near-record-outbreak/

2019-04-22 13:49:49Z
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New device to treat ADHD without drugs while kids sleep - KTRK-TV

LOS ANGELES, California -- The FDA has approved a new medical device to help treat ADHD in children.

The authorization was granted to the life sciences company NeuroSigma based in Los Angeles.

The device is designed for kids ages 7 to 12 who are not taking a prescription for the disorder.

Children wear a small adhesive patch while they sleep. It then delivers a low-level electrical pulse to parts of the brain responsible for ADHD symptoms.

It's called the Monarch external Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation (eTNS) System.

The device is not currently covered by insurance and could cost just over $1,000.

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https://abc13.com/health/new-device-to-treat-adhd-without-drugs-while-kids-sleep/5263975/

2019-04-22 11:37:57Z
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When Is Snoring A Sign Of A Serious Health Issue? : Shots - Health News - NPR

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When is a snore just annoying and when is it a sign of sleep apnea? Luckily, they sound pretty different. Aleksandra Shutova / EyeEm/Getty Images/EyeEm hide caption

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Aleksandra Shutova / EyeEm/Getty Images/EyeEm

An estimated 40 percent of adults in the U.S. snore. And, men: You tend to out-snore women. (Yes, this may explain why you get kicked or shoved at night!)

And despite the myth that snoring is a sign of deep sleep, there's really no upside to it.

"Snoring really does not demonstrate anything good, " says Erich Voigt, an ear, nose, and throat doctor and sleep specialist at New York University Langone Health. "You can have beautifully deep sleep in a silent sleep."

Snoring is never great news, but often it's harmless (other than the pain your sleeping partner may feel). In some cases though, it's a sign of something serious.

When we sleep, if the air that moves through our noses and mouths has a clear passage — we can sleep silently. But when the airways are narrowed, that's when we snore.

"Snoring is basically a vibration of the tissues inside of the airway," Voigt explains — that is, the roof of the mouth and the vertical folds of tissue that surround the tonsils.

A lot of factors can contribute to snoring, says Voigt. We can control some of the underlying triggers. For instance, drinking alcohol is linked to snoring. Alcohol tends to make the tissues within our mouths swell a bit and alcohol can also change the quality of sleep.

"Your brain is sedated from alcohol, so the combination can make you snore worse," Voigt says.

Being overweight can also increase the likelihood of snoring. So, when people lose weight, this can reduce the amount they snore.

Other factors that contribute to snoring may be outside our control. There are physical obstructions, such as a large uvula or a deviated septum. In addition, allergies and upper respiratory infections can cause the tissues in the roof of the mouth to become floppy, swollen, or stretched out, Voigt says.

So, when is snoring just annoying, and when is it a sign of a potentially serious problem? A light, rhythmic snore — that stays pretty steady — is common and tends to be harmless. "It might be bad for the bed partner, but it's not a big health problem," Voigt says.

But when snoring becomes loud and erratic, this can signal a problem. So, if you're concerned about the person you sleep with, what should you listen for?

"A crescendo where the snoring is getting louder and louder," Voigt explains, is the first sign. The crescendo is typically followed by periods of no sound, and then a gasp that can sound like a snort.

This pattern of snoring can be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea which is a serious condition that can increase the risk of heart disease. What happens to people with this condition is that the airway will collapse in on itself and close. "And as the person is trying to breath in, the air will not pass. That's what the apnea is," Voigt explains.

You can watch and listen to this YouTube video for a good demonstration of the sounds made by someone with sleep apnea.

Listen to what normal snoring sounds like at the beginning of this video. At minute 1:10 you can hear the snoring and gasping that is characteristic of sleep apnea.

David Oleniacz Videos YouTube

"During the first minute he has regular rhythmic snoring," Voigt says. "Then, in the second minute he has a pause, (apnea) or no breathing, followed by a big gasp for air."

Often, people with sleep apnea don't wake to consciousness, so they don't know they have a problem. So, if you sleep with someone who snores, you're in a good position to help flag the issue. Then, it's best to get it checked out by a doctor who can diagnose the problem.

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https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/04/22/714249236/beyond-annoying-how-to-identify-the-sounds-of-a-troublesome-snore

2019-04-22 09:01:00Z
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El Al Flight Attendant in Deep Coma After Contracting Measles on NY to TLV Journey - The Jewish Voice

A 43-year-old El Al Airlines flight attendant was rushed to a hospital with measles, and has reportedly lapsed into a deep coma after coming down with a fever on March 31.

By: Andrew B. Mayfair

The woman is now said to be suffering from encephalitis and breathing with the assistance of a respirator at Israel’s Meir Medical Center, according to CNN.

Israeli health officials said the woman may have been infected with measles in New York, Israel or a flight between the two locations, both of which are experiencing active measles outbreaks. No other passengers appear to have contracted measles, CNN added.

“She’s been in a deep coma for 10 days, and we’re now just hoping for the best,” Dr. Itamar Grotto, associate director general of Israel’s Ministry of Health, told CNN in an interview.

It has been reported by CBS News that the flight attendant had been vaccinated against measles as a child but only received a single dose.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that all children get two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine since 1989.

The New York City Board of Health is issuing civil summonses for three parents who didn’t comply with the mandatory measles vaccination order. They are subject to fines of up to $1,000 apiece.

The continuing order for vaccinations applies to children ages 6 months and older with fines for non-compliance. City officials announced an emergency vaccination order for four ZIP codes in Brooklyn last week to stem the measles outbreak.

“A lawsuit challenging the order mandating measles vaccinations in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, was dismissed by a state Supreme Court judge on Thursday. The suit was filed by five anonymous parents who claimed the order was unnecessary and infringed on religious rights, also claiming vaccines are dangerous,” reports Fox News.

According to the latest measles statistics coming out of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, from January 1 to April 11 there were 555 reported measles cases in 20 states. In the past week alone, the CDC has received reports of 90 new cases, mainly in New York state.

“That means there have already been more measles cases in 2019 than any year in the last five years. And given that it’s only April, we’re well on track to set a record for the highest number of cases in the US since the disease was eliminated here two decades ago,” says vox.com.

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http://thejewishvoice.com/2019/04/21/el-al-flight-attendant-in-deep-coma-after-contracting-measles-on-ny-to-tlv-journey/

2019-04-21 07:47:21Z
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Born In The 1960s? The CDC Says You May Need A Measles Shot Before Traveling - Forbes

Many American adults are unsure which, if any, measles vaccination they received.

Getty

Adults who received the measles vaccine between 1963 and 1967 may not be protected from the virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That's because when the measles vaccine first became available, in 1963, there were two versions and only one was effective.

The first version of the early vaccine was inactivated, also known as "killed" measles vaccine. The other version was live attenuated measles vaccine, which was a weakened form of the virus. The killed vaccine was discontinued in 1967 when it was determined that it did not, in fact, protect against measles virus infection.

In 1968, a new version of the live measles vaccine hit the market and is still in use today. Since 1971, the measles vaccine has been combined with the mumps and rubella vaccines in the three-in-one MMR vaccine.

If you were vaccinated between 1963 and 1967 but you're unsure of which version you received, you should try to check your vaccination records. Unfortunately, there is no national organization that maintains vaccination records and they can be hard to track down. 

If you do not have written documentation, or if you have not had a blood test to prove that you're immune, the CDC recommends biting the bullet and getting another dose or two. "The MMR vaccine is safe, and there is no harm in getting another dose if you may already be immune to measles, mumps, or rubella," the agency says on its website.

A heightened risk for travelers

This year is on track to be the worst year for measles outbreaks in 27 years, according to CDC data. From January 1 to April 11, there were 555 individual confirmed cases of measles in 20 states.

Elsewhere in the world, there are currently measles outbreaks in Brazil, Israel, Japan, Ukraine and the Philippines.

There have been several recent cases of travelers contracting and spreading measles, including:

The CDC says international travelers are at high risk for exposure and transmission of the virus and recommends the following:

• Infants 6 months through 11 months of age should receive one dose of MMR vaccine. Infants who get one dose of MMR vaccine before their first birthday should get two more doses (one dose at 12 through 15 months of age and another dose at least 28 days later).
• Children 12 months of age and older should receive two doses of MMR vaccine separated by at least 28 days.
• Teenagers and adults who do not have evidence of immunity against measles should get two doses of MMR vaccine separated by at least 28 days.

Risk assessment: When were you born?

Born before the 1957? You probably were not vaccinated against measles but you're safe anyway. "Before vaccines were available, nearly everyone was infected with measles, mumps, and rubella viruses during childhood," according to the CDC website.

For two decades after 1968, most people vaccinated against measles received only one dose. The CDC's Measles FAQ page says one dose of measles vaccine is about 93 percent effective at preventing measles if exposed to the virus. Two doses are about 97 percent effective.

It wasn't until 1989 that health officials started recommending two doses of the live vaccine. There was a catch-up program in 1989, so some grade-school students received the second shot at that time, but guidelines varied by state.

The upshot: If you're unsure which measles vaccine you received, or how many doses, it's better to be safe than sorry and roll up your sleeve.

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https://www.forbes.com/sites/suzannerowankelleher/2019/04/20/born-in-the-1960s-the-cdc-says-you-may-need-a-measles-shot-before-traveling/

2019-04-20 17:07:00Z
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For three years her skin ulcers and pain would flare, then vanish, stumping doctors. Her daughter, a nurse, finally figured it out. - Laredo Morning Times

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For three years her skin ulcers and pain would flare, then vanish, stumping doctors. Her daughter, a nurse, finally figured it out.  Laredo Morning Times

Kimberly Ho, a newly minted nurse at Children's National Medical Center just off a 12-hour overnight shift, struggled to focus on a presentation about working ...

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http://www.lmtonline.com/news/article/For-three-years-her-skin-ulcers-and-pain-would-13782689.php

2019-04-20 17:03:00Z
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