27 Devastating Infectious Diseases

What Is Bronchitis, And Is It Contagious?

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"Nobody Puts Baby In A Corner": Measles Protection

By Karen L. Kier, PharmacistOn behalf of the ONU Healthwise Team 

On August 21, 1987, the movie Dirty Dancing was released in the United States. One of the most famous lines from the picture was "Nobody puts Baby in a corner."  Johnny Castle, played by Patrick Swayze, tells this line to Baby, played by Jennifer Grey. In 2024, the movie was selected to be preserved in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. 

The phrase from the movie has become iconic and represents a stance of empowerment or standing up to societal expectations.  

When it comes to preventing the spread of diseases to babies and infants, is keeping babies away from others–or "in the corner"--a viable approach?

In the last few weeks, the Ohio Department of Health Department has announced several cases of measles in Ohio. Ten people in Ashtabula County have been diagnosed with measles whose cases can be linked back to one unvaccinated man. Additional cases have been reported in Knox and Allen counties. All cases involved individuals who were unvaccinated at the time of exposure. 

Measles or rubeola is a highly contagious viral respiratory infection spread through the air by coughing, sneezing and talking. The measles virus can spread via surfaces. The virus can live on surfaces for up to two hours. Exposure studies have determined that if ten people surround one infected individual, then nine would develop the infection. 

Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes and a rash. The rash is the critical sign of measles and it starts on the face as small red bumps and then spreads to the rest of the body. Someone exposed to measles who has the virus circulating in their system is contagious four days prior to developing the rash and four days after the rash appears. 

Measles can have very serious complications including death.  In 2023, the global death rate was over 100,000 lives. There was one case of death with the serious outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico recently. 

Other serious complications can include pneumonia, an inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) and ear infections. Those with the most critical risk include babies, infants, pregnant females and those with a suppressed immune system. Exposure during pregnancy can increase the risk of birth defects. Forty percent of those who get measles will develop a complication. 

The best way to prevent measles is to receive the MMR vaccine. This vaccine protects against measles, mumps and rubella (German measles). The MMR vaccine contains a weaker form of the live viruses and allows the body to develop an immunity from the diseases without causing the disease. It is important to talk to your healthcare professional to make sure you qualify for the vaccine.  

The first dose of MMR is recommended for infants at 12-15 months of age with a second dose between 4 to 6 years prior to kindergarten. The CDC does have guidelines for infants traveling internationally to receive the MMR at 6 months, but no specific recommendations for an outbreak.  If an infant receives the MMR before 12 months, the plan is to give two more doses.

MMR is not only for children. For those who were never vaccinated, they are eligible to receive the MMR vaccine. Research indicates to achieve community protection from measles then 95% would need to be vaccinated for herd immunity. Those presumed to have natural immunity due to past exposure to a measles infection includes individuals born before 1957.  

Measles can be a serious infection with complications. Since infants less than 12 months are not considered eligible for an MMR vaccine, it becomes important to protect them from exposure to the disease.

Babies may not need to be in the corner, but we should limit their exposure to potential infections. 

ONU Healthwise is offering flu, RSV and COVID-19 vaccines at clinics Monday-Friday from 4:00-6:00 p.M.  Please call 419-772-3784 for more information.

Pope Stable; His Lung Infection Slightly Improved, Vatican Says

Pope Francis's condition remains stable, and an X-ray showed there has been a slight improvement regarding his lingering lung infection, the Vatican press office said.

The pope continues to show improvements in his mobility and ability to speak, the press office told reporters April 1. The pope continues to receive supplemental oxygen through a nasal cannula during the day and high-flow oxygen at night when necessary. He can remove the nasal tube for "brief periods" during the day.

A significant portion of his day is spent doing physical therapy to restore the level of movement he had before he was hospitalized Feb. 14 for breathing difficulties. The pope later was diagnosed with double pneumonia, as well as viral and fungal lung infections.

While the pneumonia cleared before his release from the hospital March 23, the 88-year-old pope still has a lingering lung infection, which showed "slight improvement" in a recent X-ray, the press office said.

The pope continues to follow his prescribed drug and respiratory therapies, and, like last week, his voice is showing some improvement after being significantly weakened during his long convalescence. His blood tests this week were also in the normal range.

The pope does not receive any outside visitors, the press office said. He is assisted by his personal secretaries, there are always medical personnel on call, and his doctors visit him regularly.

The pope concelebrates Mass every morning in the small chapel near his rooms on the second floor of his residence, the Domus Sanctae Marthae, and he works during the day at his desk.

The pope is in "a good mood" and welcomes the many signs of affection from the faithful, the press office added.

The Vatican planned to publish the text prepared for the pope's weekly general audience April 2, the press office said, and the homily he has prepared for a Mass April 6 as part of the Jubilee of the Sick and Health Care Workers will be read by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, who already was scheduled to preside at that Mass.

The press office said it was too soon to know if the pope would appear in some way for the Sunday Angelus April 6 or have a message for the 20th anniversary of the death of St. John Paul II April 2, which was to be marked by a memorial Mass in St. Peter's Basilica with Cardinal Pietro Parolin presiding.

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