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Public health warns of measles risk, reports two product recalls; kindergarten immunization exemption rate above state average
Summary
Public health told the advisory board that Union County has not yet recorded measles cases but should prepare as national spread continues; staff also described two local product recalls that environmental health inspected and removed from facilities.
Public health staff told the advisory board Union County has not recorded local measles cases but warned the county should expect cases given national spread, detailed ongoing preparedness steps, and reported two product recalls that environmental health staff traced to local facilities.
"People that are around somebody with measles who are not immune because of vaccination or previous infection, about 90 percent of those people will be infected," the public health communicable-disease presenter said, summarizing the virus’s contagiousness and the need for vigilance. Staff emphasized vaccination as the primary protection: with two MMR doses, vaccine effectiveness is about 97 percent.
Preparedness and surveillance: Public health said it has been sending alerts to local providers, working with school nurses and childcare providers, and reviewing vaccination coverage. Staff noted Union County’s kindergarten exclusion rate—children entering school without required vaccinations—was about 6.7 percent in the most recent data presented, higher than the state average the presenter cited (2.8 percent). Staff said the county is working to identify pockets of low coverage and to offer vaccination and outreach.
Recent recalls and inspections: Environmental health staff reported two food-product traces this month. In one case, oysters harvested from a Louisiana area tied to norovirus were tracked through distribution; inspectors confirmed one bushel had already been sold but were able to remove a second bushel from a local retail facility before sale. In another recall, a frozen shake product distributed to long-term care facilities was linked to at least one death and several illnesses; environmental health staff contacted and visited local long-term-care facilities and removed the product where it was found.
Other communicable disease notes: Staff said Tuberculosis case counts in the county increased over the previous year and that the department continues contact investigations; they noted no epidemiologic link had been found to a recent school exposure after testing. Staff requested community help completing a triennial community health assessment survey to guide planning.
Why it matters: Measles is highly contagious and can cause severe complications; local pockets of under-vaccination increase vulnerability. Ongoing surveillance, rapid recall tracing and provider alerts are part of the county’s effort to prevent outbreaks.
Ending: Public health staff said they will continue provider and public outreach, ensure appropriate isolation and contact tracing if cases arise, and provide vaccination and education resources to schools, childcare centers and community partners.
