St. Louis County Health officials not alarmed after three Missouri residents infected with measles – Spectrum News

St. Louis County Health officials not alarmed after three Missouri residents infected with measles  Spectrum News

Three people from St. Louis, Franklin and Jackson counties became infected after being near the New York resident aboard the same train CLAYTON, Mo. — There is no need for the public to be alarmed after three Missouri residents became infected with the measles on an Amtrak train last month. That’s according to St. Louis County Public Health Director Dr. Kanika Cunningham. She told Spectrum News that while two out of the three victims were fully vaccinated, the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is 97% effective and helps protect against the spread. “The big message here is this has happened in St. Louis County. People have been exposed. Check your vaccination status,” Cunningham said.

St. Louis County’s MMR vaccination rate is above 92%, Cunningham said. The state of Missouri’s vaccination rate is 89.5%, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services website. St. Louis County’s first case of the measles in 20 years was reported on Aug. 27. Cunningham said patient zero, from New York, had boarded an Amtrak train in Sedalia, which was heading to Chicago. Three people from St. Louis, Franklin and Jackson counties became infected after being near the New York resident aboard the same train. Cunningham said the Franklin County resident had only received one of out of the two MMR vaccine doses.