Measles

A heads-up to Patriots fans who traveled to Indianapolis for the Super Bowl: Massachusetts public health officials yesterday issued a measles alert for anyone who attended the Super Bowl Village - a three-block outdoor festival in downtown Indianapolis - last Friday because they may have been exposed to the highly contagious illness. Indiana disease trackers have confirmed a case of measles in a person who attended activities in the village on Feb. 3. On that day alone, more than 200,000 people made their way through Super Bowl Village, according to the host committee, and the area took on a...

The number of measles deaths worldwide has apparently dropped by about three-quarters over a decade, according to a new study by the World Health Organization and others. Most of the deaths were in India and Africa, where not enough children are being immunized. Health officials estimate about 9.6 million children were saved from dying of measles from 2000 to 2010 after big vaccination campaigns were rolled out more than a decade ago. Researchers guessed the number of deaths fell during that time period from about 535,300 to 139,300, or about 74 percent.

Health officials say a person diagnosed with measles may have exposed others at a downtown Indianapolis storefront that housed a television studio, a hat shop and a nightclub during last week's Super Bowl festivities. WISH-TV reported Friday ( http://bit.ly/wYVy8W) that Marion County health officials say the person on Feb. 3 visited the Huddle in the former Nordstrom's store, which included the station's Super Bowl studios. Officials previously said the person had visited the Super Bowl Village but hadn't entered any buildings.

ATLANTA - Last year was the worst year for measles in the United States in 15 years, health officials said Thursday. There were 222 cases of measles, a large jump from the 60 or so seen in a typical year. Most of the cases last year were imported - either by foreign visitors or by US residents who picked up the virus overseas. US children have been getting measles vaccinations for nearly 50 years. But low vaccination rates in Europe and other places resulted in large outbreaks overseas in 2011.

BEIJING — China’s plans to vaccinate 100 million children and come a step closer to eradicating measles has set off a popular outcry that highlights widening public distrust of the authoritarian government after repeated health scandals. Since the Health Ministry announced the World Health Organization-backed measles vaccination plan last week, authorities have been flooded with queries and Internet bulletin boards have been plastered with messages filled with worry. Conspiracy theories saying the vaccines are dangerous have spread by cellphone text message.

The number of measles deaths worldwide has apparently dropped by about three-quarters over a decade, according to a new study by the World Health Organization and others. Most of the deaths were in India and Africa, where not enough children are being immunized. Health officials estimate about 9.6 million children were saved from dying of measles from 2000 to 2010 after big vaccination campaigns were rolled out more than a decade ago. Researchers guessed the number of deaths fell during that time period from about 535,300 to 139,300, or about 74 percent.

Mexican health officials say a French baby girl who recently flew in from Paris is Mexico's first case of measles in four years. The toddler has not been identified, but Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordova says the Mexico City neighborhood where she is staying is under quarantine. Health officials are vaccinating workers at the capital's airport. Authorities also are contacting passengers who were on the July 10 flight with the baby to notify them a traveler was infected with the highly contagious measles virus.

By Chelsea Conaboy, Globe Staff A look at the morning's top health industry news. Busy year for measles: Massachusetts has seen an uptick in measles cases this year with 15 reported so far, including several last week. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention yesterday reported that 2011 has been the busiest year for measles since 1996. The news cases mostly are "imported," meaning they are tied to outbreaks in countries frequented by US travelers. Scott Hensley of National Public Radio digs into the numbers.

TRENTON, N.J. -- Maurice Hilleman, a pioneer in vaccine research who developed vaccines for mumps, measles, chicken pox, and other childhood scourges, died yesterday of cancer. He was 85. A longtime resident of the Philadelphia area, he died at Chestnut Hill Hospital in Philadelphia. Dr. Hilleman worked for Whitehouse Station-based Merck & Co. Inc. for nearly 30 years before retiring in 1984 as senior vice president of Merck Research Labs in West Point, Pa., the pharmaceutical company said.

LONDON -- A doctor whose research has been seized upon for the last five years by parents opposed to the measles, mumps, and rubella combined vaccine has urged them not to fear the childhood immunization, saying lingering concerns over a link with autism are unfounded. In a letter published this week in The Lancet medical journal, Dr. Simon Murch warned that the proportion of toddlers getting the vaccine, known as MMR, has dropped so low in Britain that major measles outbreaks are likely this winter.

Health officials say a person diagnosed with measles may have exposed others at a downtown Indianapolis storefront that housed a television studio, a hat shop and a nightclub during last week's Super Bowl festivities. WISH-TV reported Friday ( http://bit.ly/wYVy8W) that Marion County health officials say the person on Feb. 3 visited the Huddle in the former Nordstrom's store, which included the station's Super Bowl studios. Officials previously said the person had visited the Super Bowl Village but hadn't entered any buildings.

A heads-up to Patriots fans who traveled to Indianapolis for the Super Bowl: Massachusetts public health officials yesterday issued a measles alert for anyone who attended the Super Bowl Village - a three-block outdoor festival in downtown Indianapolis - last Friday because they may have been exposed to the highly contagious illness. Indiana disease trackers have confirmed a case of measles in a person who attended activities in the village on Feb. 3. On that day alone, more than 200,000 people made their way through Super Bowl Village, according to the host committee, and the area took on a...

LONDON - After years of decline, measles is on the rise in Europe, according to a new report released yesterday. As of October, European health officials reported more than 26,000 measles cases this year and nine deaths. That's a threefold increase in cases from the same time period in 2007, said the World Health Organization. France accounted for about 14,000 cases, mainly in children older than 5 and in young adults. Other big outbreaks of the disease have been identified in Spain, Romania, Macedonia, and Uzbekistan.

Maryland health officials are warning passengers who took an Amtrak train from Boston to Virginia last week that they might have been exposed to measles from an infected passenger. Northeast Regional train #171 departed Boston last Wednesday at 8:15 a.m., with stops in New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., before reaching Lynchburg, Va., about 8:30 p.m. Anyone who got off the train before the passenger got on in Philadelphia is not at risk, health officials said. Those who have not been vaccinated against measles should call their doctor immediately if they see symptoms...

Maine health officials say a Canadian who visited the state has been diagnosed with measles and that he or she might have exposed people to it. The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention says the Quebec native vacationed in the Old Orchard Beach and Saco areas from July 15 to 18. WMTW-TV reports that the Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services notified Maine health officials Thursday. Most Mainers have been vaccinated, but children under one year of age and people born since 1957 who haven't been given two doses of the MMR vaccine...

Mexican health officials say a French baby girl who recently flew in from Paris is Mexico's first case of measles in four years. The toddler has not been identified, but Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordova says the Mexico City neighborhood where she is staying is under quarantine. Health officials are vaccinating workers at the capital's airport. Authorities also are contacting passengers who were on the July 10 flight with the baby to notify them a traveler was infected with the highly contagious measles virus.

ATLANTA -- Toddlers in Massachusetts are more likely to be fully immunized than children in any other state, according to a report released yesterday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly 91 percent of Bay State children between ages 19 months and 35 months are vaccinated against diseases such as diphtheria, polio, measles, mumps, and hepatitis B. Also, the report said that for the first time in at least a decade, the vaccination rate for black children in the United States has caught up to that of youngsters in other racial groups.

Get ready to see more advertisements in Massachusetts pharmacies for a wide variety of vaccines that consumers will now be able to receive in the stores. A new policy adopted by state health regulators grants pharmacists the authority to administer 10 adult vaccines in addition to the annual flu shot they already can give. The new vaccines being offered are for measles, mumps, and rubella; tetanus, diptheria, and whooping cough; shingles; pneumonia; hepatitis A; hepatitis B; polio; HPV; chickenpox; and meningitis.