“Minnesota is currently experiencing its largest outbreak of measles in thirty years,” said Hiram C. Polk Jr., MD, DPH commissioner. “Officially, measles was eradicated in the United States in 2000 and the measles cases that do occur usually are associated with international travel.  Minnesota’s current epidemic may be due to travel between the Somali-American community and their home country. A majority of the recent Minnesota cases were unvaccinated children.”

Measles symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes that may be sensitive to light followed by a rash that typically spreads from the face and head downward to the rest of the body over a few days. Measles spreads through the air by coughing or sneezing.  You can get measles by just being in the same room as someone who has the disease. 

Measles is a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and even death. It spreads very easily among unvaccinated people. The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is routinely given to children in two doses, typically at 12 months and at 4 through 6 years. The first dose offers good protection, and the second dose provides extra security. 

The Kentucky Department for Public Health has the following recommendations to protect children and adults from measles and to prevent outbreaks:

·All children aged 12 months and older who have not received MMR vaccine should get the first dose as soon as possible. A second MMR dose is routinely recommended at age 4 through 6 years but can be give 28 or more days after the first dose.

·Adults born during and after 1957 who never received a MMR vaccine and never had medical provider advice they were immune to measles should get a dose of MMR vaccine as soon as possible. Adults attending postsecondary educational institutions or working in healthcare settings should receive two MMR doses at least 28 days apart,

·For children (aged 12 months and older) and adults planning to travel internationally, particularly to Europe, Asia or Africa or living in Somali-American communities should receive two MMR doses at least 28 days apart. Infants aged 6 through 11 months should receive one dose of MMR vaccine before departure from the United States for international travel.

For parents concerned about the cost of immunizations, the Kentucky Vaccines for Children Program provides free or low-cost vaccines for eligible children through age 18 years. Please contact your local health department for more information or call the Kentucky Immunization Program at 502-564-4478.

Somali Translation

Sababo la xiriira jadeecada hadda ka dilaacday Minnesota daraadeed, ayay saraakiisha caafimaadka gobolka Kentucky waxay ku talinayaan in laga tallaalo jadeecada carruurta iyo dadka qaangaarka ee dhashay wixii ka dambeeyay 1957 si looga horgato inay halkaan Kentucky ka dilaacdo.

“Minnesota waxaa haatan haysta dilaacidii ugu weyneed ee cudurka jadeecada ee soddonkii sannadood ee la soo dhaafay,” ayuuyiri Hiram C. Polk Jr., MD, DPH guddoomiyaha. “Rasmi ah, jadeecada waxaa laga cirib tiray Maraykanka sanadkii 2000 iyo xaaladaha jadeeco ee hadda badanaa dhaca waxay la xiriiraan socdaalka caalamiga ah..  Faafitaanka cudurka ee Minnesota ayaa laga yaabaa inay sabab u tahay safarada u dhexeeya bulshada Soomaalida Amerikanka iyo dalkooda hooyo.. Inta badan xaaladaha hadda ka dhacay Minnesota waxay ahaayeen carruur aanan la tallaalin.”

Aastaamaha jadeecada waxaa ku jiro qandho sareysa, qufac, sanka oo da’da, iyo indhaha oo gaduuta, indhaha oo ilmeeyay oo xasaasina ku noqda nalka oo ay ku xigaan finnanka caadi ahaan ku faafo ka bilow wajiga iyo madaxa hoose illaa jirka kale oo dhoor maalmood ah. Jadeecada waxay ku faaftaa dhinaca hawada oo ah qufacida ama hindhista.  Waxaa kugu dhici kara jadeecada adigoo kula jira qol kaliya qof qaba cudurka. 

Jadeecadu waa cudur khatar ah oo keeni kara in isbitaal qofka la dhigo iyo xataa dhimasho. Waxay ugu faaftaa si aad u sahlan dadka aanan la tallaalin. Tallaalka jadeecada, busbuska iyo jadeecada jarmalka (MMR) waxaa si joogta ah loo siiyaa carruurta oo labo garoojo, caadi ahaan xiliga 12 bilood iyo 4 illaa 6 sanno. Garoojada ugu horeyso waxay siisaa illaalo wanaagsan, iyo garoojada labaad waxay bixisaa amni dheeraad ah. 

Waaxda Caafimaadka Bulshada ee Kentucky ayaa talooyinka soo socda siinaysa carruurta iyo dadka qaangaarka si looga badbaadiyo jadeecada iyo looga hortago fiditaankeeda:

·Dhammaan carruurta da’doodu tahay 12 bilood iyo ka weyn ee aanan helin tallaalka jadeecada, busbuska iyo jadeecada jarmalka waa inay helaan garoojada koowaad sida ugu dhaqsiyaha badan oo suurtogalka ah. Garoojada labaad ee tallaalka jadeecada, busbuska iyo jadeecada jarmalka waxaa si joogta ah loogu taliyay da’da 4 illaa 6 sanno jir laakin waxaa la siin karaa 28 ama maalmo ka badan kadib garoojada koowaad.

·Dadka qaangaarka ee dhashay intii lagu jiray 1957 iyo wixii ka dambeeyay ee aanan marnaba helin tallaalka jadeecada, busbuska iyo jadeecada jarmalka iyo marnaba aanan helin tallada dhaqtarka caafimaad ee ah inay difaaca jirka u leeyihiiin jadeecada waa inuu helaa garoojada tallaalka jadeecada, busbuska iyo jadeecada jarmalka sida ugu dhaqsiyaha badan oo suurtogalka ah. Dadka qaangaaka ee ka qeybgalayo machadyada waxbarashada dugsiga sare dhaafsan ama ka shaqeynayo goobaha daryeelka caafimaad waa inuu helaa labo garoojada tallaalka jadeecada, busbuska iyo jadeecada jarmalka ugu yaraan 28 maalmood oo kala qeyb ah,

·Carruurta (da’doodu tahay 12 bilood iyo ka weyn) iyo dadka qaangaarka ee qorsheynaya inay u safraan wadanka dibadiisa, gaar ahaan Yurub, Aasiya ama Afrika ama ku nool bulshooyinka Soomaalida Mareykanka ah waa inay helaan labo garoojooyinka tallaalka jadeecada, busbuska iyo jadeecada jarmalka ugu yaraan 28 maalmood oo kala qeyb ah. Ilmaha da’dooda ah 6 illaa 11 bilood waa inay helaan hal garoojada tallaalka jadeecada, busbuska iyo jadeecada jarmalka ka hor inta uusan ka bixin Mareykanka oo aadin safarka caalamiga ah.

Waaladiinta ka walaacsan kharashka tallaalada, Barnaamijka Tallaalada Carruurta Kentucky ayaa siiya tallaalada bilaashka ama kharashka la dhimaya carruurta u qalma ee ah illaa da’da 18 sanno jirka. Fadlan kala xiriir waaxdaada caafimaadka deegaanka wixii warbixin dheeraad ah ama ka soo wac Barnaamijka Tallaalka Kentucky 502-564-4478.