Measles cases inching closer to Alabama

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC) - Doctors say the measles outbreak is getting closer to Alabama, and has already made it to the neighboring states of Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee.

“The incidents of measles is actually increasing significantly this year and it’s increasing nearby,” said Dr. William Curry, Senior VP for Population Health at UAB Health Systems.

In fact, according to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention there have been 626 confirmed cases of measles in the United States this year. That’s the second-greatest number of cases reported since the disease was thought to be eliminated in 2000.

"And the anticipation is that at some point, that the virus will cross the state line,” said Curry. “We’re likely to have one or more cases of measles in Alabama.”

"If you look at 1000 people that have measles, unfortunately they are not just going to be people walking around with a rash, they’re going to be little kids who are more vulnerable to the bad side effects, particularly pneumonia and brain swelling,” said Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, UAB Division of Infectious Diseases.

Doctors add anyone who is medically able to get vaccinated should do so. They say concerns about the vaccines have been proven to be unfounded.

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