In the News--Measles still poses threat to US

There are diseases which in the past killed some people and made others very ill.  Contagious diseases such as whooping cough, measles, hepatitis B (and others) are still around and could become deadly again IF we stopped immunizing people.

For example, a recent news article reported that in 2000, measles was officially eliminated in the US.  However, travelers continue to bring it into the US from other parts of the world.  Most Americans have been immunized for measles while children and should be immune.  The MMR (Measles, mumps, rubella) immunization includes the measles.   Routinely the MMR vaccine is given at 12-15 months of age with a planned booster shot.   Those people who have not been immunized face a risk of catching measles.  This article can be found at http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/09/12/measles-still-poses-threat-to-us-health-officials-warn/

For more information about the MMR immunization, see http://www.immunize.org/askexperts/experts_mmr.asp

For more information about some of the potential contagious diseases, see http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/whatifstop.htm