Category: infections, vaccination, and hygiene

Measles Cases Surge in the U.S.: Understanding the Outbreak

Measles cases in the U.S. have surged recently. Measles is highly contagious with serious complications, though largely preventable via vaccinations like the MMR. Public health officials express concern over these outbreaks.

update March 10, 2025

Measles in the U.S. has climbed to its highest level in 25 years, closing in on 700 cases this year in a resurgence largely attributed to misinformation that is turning parents against vaccines.

“This is alarming,” said Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University vaccine expert. Not only is measles dangerous in itself, but its return could mean other vaccine-preventable diseases seemingly consigned to the past may be coming back as well, he said.

APNEWS.COM, APRIL 24, 2019

What is measles?

At one time, measles was one of the “usual childhood diseases” that most people Born before 1957 contracted as children prior to the use of the vaccine. It is caused by a virus in the Paramyxoviridae family and spread by person-to-person contact.

The other childhood diseases were

  • Rubella, or  German measles
  • Chicken pox, or  varicella
  • Roseola
  • Fifth Disease, or erythema infectiosum

These all cause a rash, called an exanthem.

Mumps was also a common childhood disease but does not usually cause a rash.

Symptoms of measles include

  • cough,
  • nasal drainage,
  • reddened, inflamed eyes, and
  • a rash as pictured below.
the rash of measles
image courtesy of the CDC- Centers for Disease Control , U.S. government

Treatment of Measles

Management of measles involves supportive care, meaning controlling fever for comfort, ensuring adequate nutrition and fluids to prevent dehydration.

Vitamin A supplementation is recommended by the World Health Organization and the CDC.

An antiviral drug, ribavirin has been used to treat severe life-threatening cases. It has not been studied in controlled trials, so the FDA has not approved its use.

Most of those infected recover uneventfully but there can be serious complications including pneumonia and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).

Preventing measles and other exanthems

After the measles vaccine was introduced in 1963 the number of reported cases was reduced by 99%. In 2000 measles was declared no longer endemic (occurring routinely) in the United States. U.S. public health officials consider an outbreak a major setback in the control of infectious disease.

Measles vaccine is usually administered as a “3 in 1” vaccine- the MMR, which has been vilified as a possible cause of autism, although that has been thoroughly discredited.

The other two letters in the mix stand for mumps and rubella (also known as German measles) both of which are also caused by viruses and for which no treatment exists.

No vaccine exists for roseola or Fifth Disease, but we have an effective vaccine for varicella, commonly called chickenpox.

MEASLES OUTBREAK 2025

According to KFF Health News

“Since the outbreak emerged three weeks ago, the Texas health department has confirmed 90 cases with 16 hospitalizations, as of Feb. 21. Most of those infected are under age 18.

Officials suspect that nine additional measles cases reported in New Mexico, across the border from the epicenter of the Texas outbreak in Gaines County, are linked to the Texas outbreak. Ongoing investigations seek to confirm that connection.

Health officials worry they’re missing cases. Undetected infections bode poorly for communities because doctors and health officials can’t contain transmission if they can’t identify who is infected.

“This is the tip of the iceberg,I think this is going to get a lot worse before it gets better.”

Rekha Lakshmanan, chief strategy officer for The Immunization Partnership in Houston, a nonprofit that advocates for vaccine access.

Continue reading this report at

Texas Measles Outbreak Nears 100 Cases, Raising Concerns About Undetected Spread

sharing the HEART of health

My family receives vaccines and believe any potential risk is worth the benefit. I urge you to think carefully and talk to a trusted physician before you make vaccination decisions for yourself and your children.

I’d love for you to follow this blog. I share information and inspiration to help you transform challenges into opportunities for learning and growth.

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Dr. Aletha 

The cover image for this post was created using AI.

Women’s health – meds to control pain and prevent disease

This post reviews drugs for women’s health issues. Elagolix treats endometriosis pain but not infertility. Elagolix and ulipristal may help with uterine fibroids. Prasterone relieves dyspareunia and improves sexual desire. Botox and monoclonal antibodies prevent migraine pain. HPV vaccine prevents cervical cancer, and Shingrix prevents shingles more effectively.

updated May 2, 2024

In this post, I review drugs that treat conditions exclusive to or common in women. These are broad topics so I have linked to several authoritative sources.

This information is current as of the date of original publication or update. It may have changed by the time you read this. I invite you to fact-check what you read here.

Please do not use this information for diagnosis or treatment purposes. Before making health decisions, discuss with your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.

Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

Relieving the pain of endometriosis

Women with endometriosis suffer infertility, excessive bleeding, painful periods, and pelvic pain unrelated to periods. In endometriosis, uterine tissue grows outside the uterus.

Endometriosis can be difficult to diagnose, requiring invasive procedures to discover. Treatment depends on the goal, whether pregnancy, pain relief, or both. Short of surgery, hormonal therapy has been the mainstay of treatment.

A hormonal drug, elagolix, brand name Orilissa, is the first of its kind specifically developed and approved to treat “moderate to severe” endometriosis pain. It does not help with infertility.

 

Stop bleeding fibroids

Researchers are studying elagolix and another hormonal drug ulipristal for treating uterine fibroids. Fibroids are growths within the uterine that can cause pain and excessive bleeding. Initial trials show both of these drugs can significantly decrease bleeding and pain. However, neither is currently FDA-approved for treating fibroid.

Easing dyspareunia

After menopause many women develop atrophy of the vagina, making it thin, dry, and easily irritated, leading to painful sex, or dyspareunia. An intravaginal medication, prasterone, brand name Intrarosa, can help relieve the discomfort. Studies show it may also help improve sexual desire and arousal, but it is not labeled for this.

Manufactured by AMAG Pharmaceuticals, it is for “moderate to severe” symptoms. Also known as DHEA, it is a steroid that transforms into estrogen in the vagina, administered as a once-daily vaginal insert at bedtime, applied with an applicator.

Other options for treating vaginal atrophy symptoms are oral or vaginal estrogen and/or vaginal lubricants.

Prevention of migraine pain and disability

Migraine, although not exclusive to women, occurs more frequently in them than in men. For infrequent headaches, non-prescription pain relievers are effective and recommended. But for severe, frequent, or persistent symptoms prevention is recommended to improve quality of life.

Botox, onabotulinumtoxin A, has been FDA-approved for treating chronic migraine, meaning patients with frequent headaches and other migraine symptoms for at least 3 months.

Yes the same drug used to treat wrinkles, Botox, can prevent migraine. For migraine, the drug is injected into the upper facial muscles by a physician specifically trained in its use.

A calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor is responsible for transmitting migraine pain. Monoclonal antibodies bind to the receptor, blocking the pain.

The antibodies are produced in a laboratory but work like antibodies naturally produced by the body. These drugs are given by injection.

  • Erenumab-Aimovig
  • Galcanezumab-Emgality
  • Fremanezumab-Ajoovy

Gepant drugs also block the CGRP receptors, both preventing and relieving migraine. These are in pill form so are taken by mouth.

  • Rimegepant-Nurtec ODT
  • Ubrogepant-Ubrelvy 

I also discuss migraine in this post.

Preventing cervical cancer with the HPV vaccine

Infection with the HPV, human papillomavirus, causes genital warts and changes in the cervix called CIN which can lead to cervical cancer.

According to a review of clinical trials by Cochran, vaccination against this virus effectively prevents infection and thus fewer cases of CIN. Since a significant percentage of CIN progresses to cancer, we can expect fewer women will develop invasive cervical cancer, the 4th most common cancer in women worldwide.

The vaccine, Gardasail 9, originally approved for use in females ages 9 to 26 years, received FDA approval for use up to age 45 years.

Stopping shingles with the zoster vaccine

And speaking of vaccines, a new zoster (shingles) vaccine, Shingrix, prevents the painful rash much more effectively than the original vaccine Zostavax. It ranges in effectiveness from 91% to 97% at preventing shingles, depending on age. The first vaccine was 51% effective.

Zoster is a reactivation of the varicella virus that causes chickenpox. It causes a painful rash known as shingles; the pain may continue after the rash is gone. It can happen at any age, but symptoms tend to be worse in older persons.

exploring the HEART of women’s health

I’d love for you to follow this blog. I share information and inspiration to help you transform challenges into opportunities for learning and growth.

Add your name to the subscribe box to be notified of new posts by email. Click the link to read the post and browse other content. It’s that simple. No spam.

I enjoy seeing who is new to Watercress Words. When you subscribe, I will visit your blog or website. Thanks and see you next time.

Dr. Aletha