As a Minnesota measles outbreak nears 50 cases, a South Dakota health official urges state residents to make sure their immunizations are up to date…
Dr. Lon Kightlinger says children should receive the measles vaccination twice: the first dose at 12 months and the second between four and six years old. He says those who have received two doses of measles vaccine or were born before 1957 are considered immune to the disease.
South Dakota reported its last measles cases in late 2014 when an outbreak centered in Mitchell sickened 10 state residents and four out-of-state residents. Prior to that outbreak, it had been 17 years since South Dakota reported a measles case.
Kightlinger says symptoms include a fever, cough, runny nose and pinkeye followed by rash three to five days later. If you have these symptoms contact your family doctor immediately.
(KORN)