It's not only flu that people have to fight against in the coming weeks. Measles has already invaded California, including the Bay Area, affecting almost 60 people since December 2014.
The outbreak is believed to have started in two of the family-friendly attractions in the state, California Adventure Park and Disneyland. Based on the medical records, most of those who contracted the virus had interacted with someone who had been in these places or they themselves visited the attractions. At least 40 cases can be attributed to these parks, and a number of these patients were employees.
However, they also have something else in common: many of those who developed measles were unvaccinated. Thus, the public health officials of the state are strongly calling for others to have themselves vaccinated before they get themselves sick.
Meanwhile, for those who don't want to go through the vaccination for whatever reason should avoid public areas, especially those with extremely high traffic, to avoid infection. So far, there have been reported cases in Alameda, Santa Clara, and San Mateo in the Bay Area.
This advice is sensible and practical since measles virus can remain incubated for several days or even weeks. Moreover, since the early symptoms that include a runny nose and fever often mimic those of the flu, the patient can remain undiagnosed for some time. However, he or she is already contagious.
Children who have been unvaccinated are often told not to report to school if one of the students is sick of measles.
Measles is one of the preventable diseases, especially in developed nations such as the United States. Before the vaccine has been discovered, the state reported as many as 40,000 cases annually. Vaccination can help reduce the risk of getting infected by as much as 99% especially among children.
Measles vaccination for children is in two doses: one during the child's first year up to 15 months and before he or she begins kindergarten.