New numbers from the Minnesota Department of Health show the measles outbreak in the state is growing, CBS Minnesota reports. There are now 44 cases reported in Minnesota, which is up from 41 on Thursday. The outbreak is primarily in the state’s large Somali-American community, where many parents avoid the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine because of unfounded fears that it causes autism.
All but two of the cases involve unvaccinated patients.Health officials are now offering new guidelines for the measles vaccination as new cases become a daily occurrence. “We’re very early in the outbreak,” said Dr. Shane McAllister, assistant professor in pediatric infectious disease and immunology at the University of Minnesota’s Masonic Children’s Hospital. “We’re going to be seeing this for a while.” FULL REPORT
