1983 — Measles & Rubella (German Measles) CA/1, FL/1, KS/1, MI/1, MN/1, NM/1, NC/1-7

—  4  CDC WONDER. Search for ICD-9, 0.55 (Rubeola/Measles), 2-16-2017.

—  3  CDC WONDER. Search for ICD-9, 0.56 (Rubella/German Measles), 2-16-2017.

 

California                   (1)

— 1  Los Angeles. Male, 10-14. CDC WONDER. Search for ICD-9, 0.55 (Rubeola Measles).

 

Florida                        (1)

— 1  Hillsborough Co. Male, 10-14. CDC WONDER. ICD-9, 0.56 (Rubella/German Measles).

 

Kansas                        (1)

— 1  Montgomery Co. Female, <1. CDC WONDER. ICD-9, 0.56 (Rubella/German Measles).

 

Michigan                    (1)

–1  Ottawa County. Male, 25-34. CDC WONDER. Search for ICD-9, 0.55 (Rubeola Measles).

 

Minnesota                  (1)

— 1  Beltrami County. Male, 5-9. CDC WONDER. Search for ICD-9, 0.55 (Rubeola Measles).

 

New Mexico               (1)

— 1  Quay County. Female, 20-24. CDC WONDER. ICD-9, 0.56 (Rubella/German Measles).

 

North Carolina          (1)

— 1  Forsyth County. Female, 1-4. CDC WONDER. Search for ICD-9, 0.55 (Rubeola Measles).

 

Narrative Information

 

March 8, IN: “Bloomington, Ind. (AP) — A measles epidemic at Indiana University has infected up to 320 people, and health officials say the outbreak is so serious that non-immunized students may be barred from campus after spring break. State Health Commissioner Ronald G. Blankenbaker said Monday that 170 cases of measles at the school have been confirmed since mid-January, with another 150 cases suspected. A mass inoculation program has been ordered at the southern Indiana campus, and 13,000 of the university’s 32,000 students were immunized by Monday, he said. The free immunizations against the rubeola, or ‘old-fashioned measles,’ were being continued at a rate of about 175 per hour, college officials said….” (AP. “Officials fear measles epidemic.” The Iola Register, KS, 3-8-1983, p. 2.)

 

May 18, Kern County, CA: “Leon M. Hebertson, M.D., Kern County health Officer, declared today that Kern County is having a measles epidemic. In the past two weeks six clinically diagnosed cases of measles (Rubeola) have been identified and reported. This represents a 300 percent increase over last year, says Dr. Hebertson. In 1981, there were no reported cases. Last year, 1982, however, an outbreak produced two reported cases in the county. This years reported measles cases include two adults and four children. These infected individuals may have exposed other persons in the communities of Bakersfield, Lamont, Arvin, Delano and Lake Isabella.

 

“Dr. Hebertson points out that Kern is not the only county reporting outbreaks of measles. There have also been reported outbreaks of measles recently in Stockton, Los Angeles, Ventura, San Diego and San Jose.

 

“Dr. Hebertson estimated 20,000 people between ages one and 25 years in Kern County are susceptible to the measles virus, and warns that individuals with no record of a live measles immunization or history of a case of measles diagnosed by a physician should receive a live measles virus vaccination immediately.

 

“As a precautionary measure Dr. Hebertson states that he is considering enforcement of the state law that excludes unimmunized children from school.

 

“Measles is a serious and highly contagious disease. Measles can cause acute ear infection, pneumonia, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or death. The virus is spread by actively infected persons and can live in the air for several hours. It is spread in classrooms, dormitories, the workplace, waiting areas, churches and other closed areas where groups of people gather. While a large percentage of school age children have been vaccinated before entering school, Dr. Hebertson estimated five to 10 percent of school age children are unprotected. In addition, many pre-school children who are old enough to be vaccinated are not. Another age group of susceptible persons are young adults, ages 19 to 25.

 

“The Health Officer also states that the measles vaccine is considered highly effective….” (Shafter Press, Shafter, CA. “Measles epidemic in [Kern] County.” 5-18-1983, 3B.)

 

Aug 12, FL: “….In the first six months of 1983, 138 cases of measles were reported in Florida; 218 cases were reported in 1982. According to Henry Janowski, Director of the Immunization Program, Florida has the second highest number of measles cases of any state in the county this year….” (Key West Citizen, FL. “Immunize children now.” 8-12-1983, p. 2.)

 

Sources

 

Associated Press. “Officials fear measles epidemic.” The Iola Register, KS, 3-8-1983, p. 2. Accessed 2-16-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/us/kansas/iola/iola-register/1983/03-08/page-2?tag

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Compressed Mortality File 1979-1998 (ICD-9, 055 (Measles) search for 1983. CDC WONDER On-line Database, compiled from Compressed Mortality File CMF 1968-1988, Series 20, No. 2A, 2000 and CMF 1989-1998, Series 20, No. 2E, 2003. Accessed at http://wonder.cdc.gov/cmf-icd9.html on Feb 16, 2017 11:29:12 AM

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Compressed Mortality File 1979-1998 (ICD-9, 056 (Rubella) search for 1983. CDC WONDER On-line Database, compiled from Compressed Mortality File CMF 1968-1988, Series 20, No. 2A, 2000 and CMF 1989-1998, Series 20, No. 2E, 2003. Accessed at http://wonder.cdc.gov/cmf-icd9.html on Feb 16, 2017 12:17:04 PM