July 2, 2025 • 4 mins
UofL Health infectious disease specialist Dr. Mark Burns warns that a measles spread is going through central Kentuckky, principally in Woodford and Fayette Counties.
It's a good time to remind parents to be sure that their children receive the MMR vaccine so that they do not become infected with measles.
It's a good time to remind parents to be sure that their children receive the MMR vaccine so that they do not become infected with measles.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I saw the word measles pop up in the news,
and I thought, wait a minute, is this nineteen seventy two.
What in the world is going on?
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Yes, yes, Unfortunately one of our old enemies from the
past is starting to try to rear its ugly head.
It's been you know, in some states around US, and
of course now it's here in Kentucky.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Unfortunately, I saw that its sprang in like Woodford County
and Fayette County. And is this something that can be
easily stopped? And what do we need to do?
Speaker 2 (00:34):
First of all, most of us US older adults, you know,
we have been vaccinated against measles. We got it way
back when, you know, and when we were in the
sixties and the seventies. And it does provide lifelong protection.
So if you've had at least one documented dose of
(00:55):
the measles mumps rebeller vaccine MMR, at least one, you
have uh protection so to speak.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Most of us have gotten too those since that will
take us up to ninety seven percent, the vast majority
of US older adults. There's really not anything for us
to really worry about. We have lifelong protection.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
What are we talking about? Measles? Spread among children.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Yeah, it's it's primarily amongst children and those who are unvaccinated.
That's what's where you're finding most of these most of
these cases people who especially unvaccinated, who have who have
been to areas where let's say, measles is prevalent. You know,
some of them have bought it back here to the US.
(01:40):
A lot of it's because of international travel now, where
the people have moved here from other places or where
there's some of us who are unvaccinated have gone there
and then come back, you know, brought it back with us.
Those seem to be how the cases have gotten here
in the US.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
But what about like sitting next to someone on an airplane,
you wouldn't know where they they've been. You're just flying
along quietly. Are you open to infection that way if
you've not been vaccinated.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Yeah, if you've not been vaccinated. The thing about measles,
it is highly highly contagious, very very contagious. It's it's
one of those contagious diseases where if you let's say,
for example, if you're in a room and let's say
a person has measles, you have ten people in the room.
(02:27):
Nine of those ten people will get infected with measles
and to make things and to make things worse. Let's
say somebody's been in a room that's infected, they leave
the room, the actual virus can sort of linger in
the air for up to about two hours, whereas a
(02:48):
pay if a person comes in within that two hour period,
even after the infected person has left, they could potentially
become The uninfected person could potential to become infected being
in that room.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Speaking with doctor Mark Burns, an infectious disease specialists at
u of L Health, So what should parents look for.
Let's say, in a kid who might be susceptible to
getting measles, well, if.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
They're unvaccinated, that's that's gonna put them at extremely high risk.
Some of the symptoms that may occur. They can have cough,
fever or red running well, red red eyes, watery eyes,
running nose, and uh usually a rash uh sort of
(03:33):
a reddish kind of blotchy kind of rash would appear
about maybe three or four days after symptoms begin. The
other thing, too, is and this this is what we
call passineumonic for measles, UH, inside the mouth is in
the areas called the buckle mucosa. But inside the mouth
(03:54):
they have white spots that sort of have maybe like
red halos around them. Okay, those are called those are
known as complic with a key complex spots and uh,
those are path pneumonic for meath. There there's no there's
no treatment for measles. Okay. The thing is it has
to be prevented and that's done with vaccination through the
(04:18):
MMR vaccinations. Uh, they're usually required before schools. However, you know,
we've had a lot of people who have either taken
religious or medical exemptions. But uh, I implore everybody you
know to be vaccinated. Uh and have your children vaccinated.
(04:38):
Missles most rebella MMR is a vaccine that's.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Given Doctor Mark Burns appreciate your insights. Thanks so much.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Thanks Terry. You have a good day now
I saw the word measles pop up in the news,
and I thought, wait a minute, is this nineteen seventy two.
What in the world is going on?
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Yes, yes, Unfortunately one of our old enemies from the
past is starting to try to rear its ugly head.
It's been you know, in some states around US, and
of course now it's here in Kentucky.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Unfortunately, I saw that its sprang in like Woodford County
and Fayette County. And is this something that can be
easily stopped? And what do we need to do?
Speaker 2 (00:34):
First of all, most of us US older adults, you know,
we have been vaccinated against measles. We got it way
back when, you know, and when we were in the
sixties and the seventies. And it does provide lifelong protection.
So if you've had at least one documented dose of
(00:55):
the measles mumps rebeller vaccine MMR, at least one, you
have uh protection so to speak.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Most of us have gotten too those since that will
take us up to ninety seven percent, the vast majority
of US older adults. There's really not anything for us
to really worry about. We have lifelong protection.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
What are we talking about? Measles? Spread among children.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Yeah, it's it's primarily amongst children and those who are unvaccinated.
That's what's where you're finding most of these most of
these cases people who especially unvaccinated, who have who have
been to areas where let's say, measles is prevalent. You know,
some of them have bought it back here to the US.
(01:40):
A lot of it's because of international travel now, where
the people have moved here from other places or where
there's some of us who are unvaccinated have gone there
and then come back, you know, brought it back with us.
Those seem to be how the cases have gotten here
in the US.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
But what about like sitting next to someone on an airplane,
you wouldn't know where they they've been. You're just flying
along quietly. Are you open to infection that way if
you've not been vaccinated.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Yeah, if you've not been vaccinated. The thing about measles,
it is highly highly contagious, very very contagious. It's it's
one of those contagious diseases where if you let's say,
for example, if you're in a room and let's say
a person has measles, you have ten people in the room.
(02:27):
Nine of those ten people will get infected with measles
and to make things and to make things worse. Let's
say somebody's been in a room that's infected, they leave
the room, the actual virus can sort of linger in
the air for up to about two hours, whereas a
(02:48):
pay if a person comes in within that two hour period,
even after the infected person has left, they could potentially
become The uninfected person could potential to become infected being
in that room.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Speaking with doctor Mark Burns, an infectious disease specialists at
u of L Health, So what should parents look for.
Let's say, in a kid who might be susceptible to
getting measles, well, if.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
They're unvaccinated, that's that's gonna put them at extremely high risk.
Some of the symptoms that may occur. They can have cough,
fever or red running well, red red eyes, watery eyes,
running nose, and uh usually a rash uh sort of
(03:33):
a reddish kind of blotchy kind of rash would appear
about maybe three or four days after symptoms begin. The
other thing, too, is and this this is what we
call passineumonic for measles, UH, inside the mouth is in
the areas called the buckle mucosa. But inside the mouth
(03:54):
they have white spots that sort of have maybe like
red halos around them. Okay, those are called those are
known as complic with a key complex spots and uh,
those are path pneumonic for meath. There there's no there's
no treatment for measles. Okay. The thing is it has
to be prevented and that's done with vaccination through the
(04:18):
MMR vaccinations. Uh, they're usually required before schools. However, you know,
we've had a lot of people who have either taken
religious or medical exemptions. But uh, I implore everybody you
know to be vaccinated. Uh and have your children vaccinated.
(04:38):
Missles most rebella MMR is a vaccine that's.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Given Doctor Mark Burns appreciate your insights. Thanks so much.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Thanks Terry. You have a good day now
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