FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 29, 2019

LAS VEGAS – As the state of Washington declares an emergency in response to an outbreak of measles, the Southern Nevada Health District is urging everyone to ensure they and their children are appropriately immunized.

In 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 17 outbreaks of measles in the United States, and the Health District reported a confirmed case of measles in a patient with a history of international travel. Measles cases in the United States can occur for several reasons, including travel to a country where vaccination rates are low and where there is spread of measles in communities with pockets of unvaccinated people.

People are considered protected from the measles if they have at least one of the following:

• Written documentation of adequate vaccination:
• • One or more doses of a measles-containing vaccine administered on or after the first birthday for preschool-aged children and adults who are not at-risk.
  • Two doses of measles-containing vaccine for school-aged children and adults at high-risk, including college students, health care personnel, and international travelers.
• Laboratory confirmation that they had measles at some point during their life.
• Laboratory confirmation that they are immune to measles.
• They were born before 1957.

Measles is a highly contagious disease that can cause serious health complications, especially in young children. Measles symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose, and watery eyes, followed by a rash that typically spreads from the head to the rest of the body. Measles spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. A person can get measles just by being in a room where an infected person has been. According to the CDC, approximately one in four people in the United States who get measles will require hospitalization. The best protection against measles is the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. The MMR vaccine is given to children in two doses, at 12 months and between 4 and 6 years of age. One dose of the MMR vaccine is about 93 percent effective at preventing illness. Two doses are about 97 percent effective at preventing illness.

The Health District’s Immunization Clinics provide the MMR and additional childhood vaccines. For more information call (702) 759-0850.

Southern Nevada Health District clinic locations:

• Main Public Health Center, 280 S. Decatur Blvd., Las Vegas
  Monday—Friday, 8 a.m.—4:30 p.m. Arrive by 4 p.m. to allow time for processing.
• East Las Vegas Public Health Center, 560 N. Nellis Blvd., Suite E12, Las Vegas
  Monday—Friday, 8 a.m.—4:30 p.m. Arrive by 4 p.m. to allow time for processing.
• Health District Henderson Clinic, 874 American Pacific Dr., Henderson
  Monday—Thursday, 8 a.m.—4:30 p.m., Friday 8 a.m.—1 p.m.
  Closed daily 1 p.m. — 2 p.m.
  By appointment only. Call (702) 759-0960.
• Mesquite Public Health Center, 830 Hafen Lane, Mesquite
  Tuesday and Thursday, 8 a.m.—4:30 p.m. Closed noon—1 p.m.
  By appointment only. Call (702) 759-1682.

The Southern Nevada Health District serves as the local public health authority for Clark County, Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas, Mesquite and North Las Vegas. The agency safeguards the public health of the community’s residents and visitors through innovative programs, regulations, and initiatives focused on protecting and promoting their health and well-being. More information about the Health District, its programs, services, and the regulatory oversight it provides is available at www.SNHD.info. Follow the Health District on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.