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New Breakout of Measles Feared--2 Die Since January

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TIMES STAFF WRITER

County health officials said Friday they are bracing for a resurgence of the measles epidemic that subsided at the end of 1990 but has killed two people since January.

A 32-year-old man died in January from complications of measles, and in February a 2-year-old girl died at Children’s Hospital of Orange County.

For the last three years measles--in particular dangerous red measles or rubeola--has plagued the county as well as the nation, according to officials at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta. Almost half of all cases reported nationally over the past year have occurred in California, said William Atkinson, a CDC epidemiologist.

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Last year, 682 cases were reported in Orange County, almost double the number of the year before. Two of those victims, both infants, died.

Symptoms of red measles, which can last anywhere from seven to 10 days, include fever, heavy coughing, redness and discharge from the eyes and nose and an irregular rash over the body. It can lead to pneumonia and encephalitis, an infection of the brain and nervous system that can cause death.

Rubella--German measles--is usually far milder.

Dr. Greg Buhert of Children’s Hospital said few measles cases necessitate hospitalization, but he stressed that the key to fighting the epidemic is early vaccination.

“We’ve certainly seen an increase (in measles cases), and of course it’s true that many parents aren’t taking precautions in vaccinating their kids, because they are unaware of the dangers of this disease. But just as many are aware and for whatever reasons haven’t done it. That has to change.”

The 2-year-old girl who died last month had received some immunizations but not a crucial measles and mumps vaccination, according to hospital officials.

Medical officials usually suggest that children not receive the vaccination before the age of 15 months because there is a low effectiveness rate in infants.

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Before a child’s first birthday, “maternal antibodies are still present in the system,” Atkinson said. “A baby receives the antibodies against diseases while still in the mother’s womb, and as the child reaches his year birthday, the effectiveness of the antibodies decreases.”

But last summer, after the deaths of two infants younger than a year, Orange County public health officials lowered the age for vaccination to six months.

“Vaccinations before a year old proved to be about 60% effective,” said Gerald Wagner, county immunization chief, “which works out well, because the other 40% that don’t respond usually still have some of their mother’s antibodies intact. Doing it at six months just assures no one is missed and left unprotected.”

Wagner added that while children are the focal point at many of the county’s health clinics, adults who have not had the disease should consider getting a second vaccination.

The county offers free measles vaccinations at its four clinics in Santa Ana, Westminster, Costa Mesa and Buena Park.

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