In this article Trader Joe's may be the source of the Measles outbreak, by foodsafeguru on the US Safety Food Blog,a local Trader Joe's located in Framingham is said to be the source of two recent cases of measles. It is said that if you were in the store between the dates February 15 and February 19 between the hours of 9 am to 5 pm, you could be at risk of infection.
Of the two cases in the metro west, one of the infected persons is said to work at this Trader Joe's. The public health organization of Massachusetts set up clinics in the store on the 22nd and the 24th to help educate staff on measles. Most employees were said to already have their vaccinations.
If they weren't in the store, the risk is minimal,” this being said by the chief public nurse of Framingham, Kitty Mahoney. This is mostly saying that if you weren't in the store you are not likely going to contract the virus. It is more of a "Don't worry about it" statement. This is probably stated so that many people don't panic and rush to a clinic to get vaccinated so they can vaccinate the ones that were exposed to the disease.
It is amazing that such an infectious disease can be this close to home. Living in Massachusetts you would never believe that something like this could happen. Measles is one of the most infectious diseases that has a large spread rate. The window of the ten day incubation period is up and people are waiting now for symptoms to set in.
A force of public health figures went in with such rapid force it is amazing. Many people are now getting vaccines and watching out for the symptoms of measles. With setting up those clinics at Trader Joe's, it spread awareness.
http://blog.usfoodsafety.com/2014/02/25/trader-joes-may-be-the-source-of-measles-outbreak/
This article was very eerie because of how close we are to Framingham. It makes this seemingly uncommon nightmare a reality. Your reflection on it made me realize that infectious disease truly is all over, and doesn't just affect those in poorer, unsanitary places. I was glad to see the employees of Trader Joes were given a training on measles. Interesting and relevant article choice!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Steph about this article being scary because it is so close to home, and I also wonder how the disease was contracted in the store? It makes you realize that no one where is ever completely safe from disease and infection. I think it would have been interesting to see what your personal opinion was, how did you feel after you read it? I wonder if this has happened anywhere else near us? Hopefully this will be the only case we hear of it, unlike the flu, which happens year round. I thought you did a nice job summarizing the article!
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