February 6, 2015
Lafene Health Center requests verification of students' immunization status for measles
Lafene Health Center would like all students to verify their immunity status to the measles. All persons born after 1956, and who are students of Kansas State University should have had two measles vaccines — or MMRs, which also protect against the mumps and rubella disease. The first dose of the MMR vaccine is given on or after age 12 months.
It is extremely important that records of these vaccines be provided to Lafene so that this information can be entered into each student's electronic health record.
Any student who has not been given both doses of MMR vaccine may be at risk of contracting measles disease if exposed to someone who has this highly contagious disease. There are currently 102 cases of measles disease in 14 states in the U.S., which is a significant outbreak. The bordering states of Nebraska and Colorado each have one case. There was a measles outbreak in Kansas in 2014 with a total of 14 confirmed cases.
There is a walk-in MMR clinic scheduled from 8:30-11:30 a.m. and 1-4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11, at Lafene Health Center for those students who have not been given this vaccine or have no record of it being given. The cost of this vaccine for students is $69, which may be covered by health insurance. The cost for faculty and staff is $79.
Measles is transmitted through airborne droplets and can infect an unimmunized person who is in the same room as someone who has the disease. The infection rate is up to 90 percent if a person has no immunity to measles and occupies the same room as a person infected with measles. This risk of the contagion lasts up to two hours after a person ill with measles departs a room.
It is considered one of the most contagious viruses that infects humans. Persons who become ill with the measles disease will typically have fever, a cough, red/watery eyes and a bright red rash that starts at their hairline and covers their body, lasting for about 5-6 days. The disease can last for 10-14 days even without complications. Complications such as ear infections, pneumonia, acute encephalitis — inflammation of the brain that can lead to convulsions — are more common in children under the age of 5 or adults over the age of 20.
Records of immunizations can be faxed to Lafene Health Center at 785-532-3425 or they can be brought in for scanning.