Childhood Diseases: VA Health Official Speaks Out about Measles Outbreaks

MEASLES, POLIO, AND CHICKEN POX - AMERICANS HAVEN’T HAD TO THINK MUCH ABOUT THESE AND OTHER DISEASES FOR DECADES, THANKS TO VACCINES INTRODUCED IN THE 20TH CENTURY. SOME DANGEROUS CHILDHOOD DISEASES LIKE MEASLES ARE MAKING A COMEBACK. A LEADING EXPERT ON CHILDHOOD INFECTIOUS DISEASES IS THE VIRGINIA STATE EPIDEMIOLOGIST DR. LAURIE FORLANO WHO SAYS MEASLES IS HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS AND CAN BE DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY FOR BABIES AND YOUNG CHILDREN. IF ONE PERSON HAS IT, UP TO 9 OUT OF 10 PEOPLE NEARBY WILL BECOME INFECTED IF THEY ARE NOT PROTECTED. BEFORE THE VACCINE WAS INTRODUCED, ROUGHLY 3 TO 4 MILLION AMERICANS CAUGHT MEASLES EACH YEAR.
DR. LAURIE FORLANO
VIRGINIA STATE EPIDEMIOLOGIST