Parents worried as measles cases begin appearing in ND

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) - The Williams County Health Department has reported nine cases of measles in the past week, but public health officials aren’t the only ones worrying about it.

Parents are concerned for the safety of their children.

Reggie Morse had her baby Xavier about a month and a half ago. She said she’s dealing with the stresses most first-time parents face, but now, she has even more to worry about. Xavier is too young to get the MMR vaccine.

“It can be fatal. Not everybody is going to die from it, and not every little baby that gets it will. But, it’s also one of these things where maybe you don’t die, but maybe you go blind,” Morse said.

Measles is highly contagious; the virus can linger in the air for hours after an infected person leaves an area.

Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health Director Renae Moch said that’s why public health departments aim to have at least 95% of the people in the county vaccinated. She said it’s very likely we’ll see measles cases in Bismarck soon. She said if you start experiencing measles symptoms—coughing, a runny nose, a rash—do not head immediately to the doctor’s office.

“We don’t want people going to the healthcare provider, because that potentially could expose people in the waiting areas and other areas. So, we really encourage people to call first,” Moch said.

Parents like Morse say getting the vaccine isn’t just about protecting yourself, it’s a way to protect those who don’t have a choice.

“If I contract measles, and I go to church, and I’m coughing on people at church, well, somebody who can’t be vaccinated at the church could get that from me. So, I’m not just taking a risk with my health; I’m taking a risk with the health of everybody around me,” Morse said.

She said as soon as Xavier is old enough, they plan to get him vaccinated.

Moch said a lot of people ask if they still need the vaccine if they were born before 1957. She said you likely have natural immunity, but she recommends asking your healthcare provider to do a blood test to be sure.