Schools, Hospitals Prepare For Measles' Outbreak Spread
DAVIS (CBS13) — As the number of measles cases linked to Disneyland rises to 87, local hospitals and schools are preparing for potential cases in the Sacramento area.
Most of the 73 cases in California are in the southern part of the state, with Disneyland's home of Orange County leading with 23 cases.
Dr. Dean Blumberg of UC Davis Children's Hospital says measles can live in the air for up to two hours, and it's still potentially deadly.
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"It's one of the most infectious diseases known to man," he said. "In the pre-vaccine era in the U.S., 500 children died every year from measles, even today 400 children die everyday worldwide from measles."
The highly infectious virus making its way across the state and country could surgace at any time.
UC Davis pediatric nurse Veronica Boys says adults or parents of children showing a rash and a high fever should call ahead before going to an emergency room, urgent care or a clinic.
"Are they potentially contagious? If they are, I'm going to isolate them," she said.
UC Davis has specially designed isolation rooms where patients can be kept and treated away from the public, using special ventilation systems to keep air from mixing.
"We do not want children who are here for something like well child exams to leave here with something that is going to cause them illness," she said.
School leaders art Sacramento City Unified say they are focusing on educating parents on the importance of getting their children vaccinated. Nurses and staff are also keeping an eye out for possible cases.
The district says it's lucky to have 99 percent of its students vaccinated.