The Monongalia County Health Department spent approximately $15,000 managing a solitary case of measles in April, according to health officer Dr. Lee Smith. This expense included 15 staff members at the health department working 250 hours to conduct contact tracing. Responding to an outbreak like this is not something that the department can financially prepare for in its budget. Smith described it as an unfunded mandate, highlighting the lack of resources available for such unforeseen situations.
Despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announcing the eradication of measles in the U.S. in 2000, the country is now grappling with these preventable diseases once again. Smith emphasized that people are not getting vaccinated at the same levels as before, leading to the resurgence of measles and other infectious diseases.
This measles case in Monongalia County marked the first one in West Virginia since 2009, reflecting a broader trend of increasing cases nationwide. Smith’s comments shed light on the challenges faced by local health departments in addressing contagious diseases and the need for adequate resources to prevent and manage future outbreaks effectively.
Smith also highlighted that responding to an outbreak requires a lot of resources and personnel from different departments, including public health, infectious disease control, epidemiology, and laboratory testing. She said that her department has been preparing for such situations by investing in technology and developing new protocols to respond quickly and efficiently.
In conclusion, while vaccination rates have decreased significantly over time, there are measures that can be taken to prevent future outbreaks from occurring. Local health departments must have access to adequate resources and personnel to effectively address these challenges and keep their communities safe from contagious diseases like measles.
