Dr. Neil Hockstein is Delaware’s surgeon general.
Hearing the word “outbreak” understandably gets people’s attention. It can sound alarming, especially when it involves a disease like measles, but it’s important to understand what that term actually means.
Because measles is one of the most contagious viruses known, an outbreak is defined as three or more related cases. That definition is intended to reflect just how easily measles can spread — not whether the disease is widespread throughout a large geographic area, like a state. Even when an outbreak is still confined to a smaller geographic area, it is an important signal to act quickly, investigate exposures and prevent additional cases before they occur.
That is exactly what Delaware has been doing.
The Delaware Division of Public Health has rapidly identified suspected cases, conducted lab testing, traced contacts and expanded vaccination options and locations to make it easier for Delawareans to protect themselves and their families. These efforts are designed to interrupt transmission as quickly as possible and keep our communities safe.
Public health works best when government and the public work together. While our health professionals are doing their part, there are important steps each of us can take.
The single most effective action is also the simplest: Make sure you and your children are up to date on your measles vaccinations.
The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is remarkably effective. Two doses have proven to be 97% effective against infection and dramatically reduce the risk of serious complications. If you’re unsure whether you or your child have received the recommended doses, now is an excellent time to check with your primary care provider or review your immunization records on the state’s DelVAX website — delvax.dhss.delaware.gov.
Parents should ensure that their children receive vaccines according to the recommended schedule in consultation with their healthcare provider. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention immunization schedule can be found at cdc.gov/vaccines. Adults who are uncertain of their vaccination statuses — particularly those planning to travel or who may have been exposed — should speak with their healthcare providers about whether vaccination or other treatment is appropriate. Additionally, adults born before 1957 are presumed immune because measles circulated widely before the vaccine existed. But anyone with questions should speak with his or her healthcare provider.
Just as importantly, know what to do if you become ill.
Measles often begins with a fever, a cough, a runny nose and red eyes before the characteristic rash appears. If you develop symptoms and believe you may have measles or have been exposed to someone with measles, call your doctor’s office, urgent care or emergency department for instructions instead of just showing up. Those providers will let you know the next steps and ask you to put on a well-fitting mask when you enter the building or utilize any transportation services.
That call is one of the most important things you can do. It allows healthcare teams to take appropriate precautions before you enter the building — protecting newborns, cancer patients, transplant recipients and others whose immune systems may not be able to fight the infection, as well as the community as a whole.
If you need to visit an emergency department or healthcare facility for another reason during the outbreak, wearing a well-fitting mask is a thoughtful precaution, as you may be spending time in waiting areas with other patients. Simple steps like staying home when you’re sick, covering coughs and sneezes, washing your hands frequently and avoiding close contact with others when you have symptoms also reduce the spread of infectious diseases.
Delaware has faced public health challenges before, and we’ve shown that we respond best when we rely on science, communicate openly and look out for one another. Vaccinations remain one of the greatest public health achievements in history, protecting not only the person receiving the vaccine but also the neighbors, classmates, co-workers and family members who may be most vulnerable.
By staying informed, making sure our families are vaccinated and taking simple precautions when we’re sick, each of us can keep Delaware healthy. If you do not have a healthcare provider, visit a DPH clinic or a mobile unit. You can find out more about them at publichealthalerts.delaware.gov/public-health-clinics.
The actions that protect us are straightforward. Get vaccinated. Check your and your children’s vaccination records. Call ahead and wear a mask if you think you may have measles. And continue to look out for one another.
That’s how Delaware will get through this outbreak — together.
For valuable resources and the most up-to-date information on measles in Delaware, visit de.gov/measles.
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
