Southwest Arkansas Radio Radio Stations KMTB, KNAS and KBHC in Nashville, Arkansas
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting over 700 cases of Measles in the United States, however none yet in Arkansas. Three bordering states including Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas have reported cases. Officials with the Arkansas Department of Health say that the upcoming summer travel season could put some Arkansans at risk. Measles is highly contagious and spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Local health department administrators we talked to said that the best advice they had to give was to make sure that you are up-to-date on vaccines.
Measles is so contagious that if one person has it, up to 9 of 10 people around them will also become infected if they are not protected. The virus can cause serious health complications, such as pneumonia or encephalitis, and even death.
CDC continues to encourage parents to get their children vaccinated on schedule with the MMR vaccine. People 6 months and older should be protected with the vaccine before leaving on international trips.
