Measles outbreaks on both coasts worry La Crosse doctor

More than 250 people in New York City have gotten measles since last summer.

The city has declared a public emergency, forcing several in one neighborhood to be vaccinated.

The New York case is more proof of the dangers of non-vaccination says Doctor Raj Naik with Gundersen Health System in La Crosse.

“These diseases will come back if we’re not vigilant in making sure that groups of people in small areas are up to date with their immunizations,”
Naik said.

Similar outbreaks have happened out west, but Naik says the possibility for an outbreak is close to La Crosse, as well

“Vernon County has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the state,” Naik said. “We definitely have the potential for outbreaks to occur in our area as well.”

Naik added that there’s no reason diseases like measles should be a recurring problem in these modern times. He said physicians need to be consistent with advocating for immunization providing education.

The Center for Disease Control puts the measles vaccine success rate at 97 percent.