Recent News

"Measles outbreak spreads to three more states and Washington DC; 121 people now affected" (Washington Post - February 10, 2015)

Feb 10th, 2015

The measles outbreak spread to three more states and Washington D.C. last week, affecting 19 additional people, according to an update posted Monday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The highly contagious disease is now in 18 jurisdictions, with 121 people affected. The vast majority of the cases are part of the large outbreak that began in Southern California Disney theme parks in late December, the health agency said. Public health authorities have begun campaigning about the importance of vaccinating children against measles. President Obama, Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy and Baltimore Public Health Commissioner Leana S. Wen, as well as the CDC and other public health organizations have called on parents to vaccinate children.

"Baltimore pediatricians, health officials urge parents to vaccinate children against measles" (WBAL-TV - February 9, 2015)

Feb 10th, 2015

Pediatricians from 10 Baltimore-area hospitals and the city's health commissioner are urging parents to vaccinate their children against the measles. Some of the area's leading pediatricians converged Monday at a measles symposium at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health to, in essence, put their foot down, saying the public is at risk when parents decide not to vaccinate their kids. "We stand here as pediatricians and public health leaders of Baltimore City and County to express our solidarity on the importance of childhood vaccination," Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen said.

"Baltimore Health Officials Urge Parents To Vaccinate Kids Against Measles" (WJZ-TV - February 9, 2015)

Feb 10th, 2015

Measles cases are on the rise across the country. Seventeen states are now reporting the illness. Tracey Leong explains what area doctors are doing to stop the disease from hitting Maryland. In this multi-state outbreak, there are 121 people with the measles. Health officials say the best form of protection is to get vaccinated. A rallying cry across the nation for parents to vaccinate their children against measles, as the highly contagious and potentially fatal disease explodes across the nation.

"Baltimore health officials urge parents to vaccinate kids against measles" (WMAR - ABC2 - February 9, 2015)

Feb 10th, 2015

Pediatricians from 10 Baltimore-area hospitals and the city's health commissioner are urging parents to vaccinate their children against the measles. "We've now eliminated measles but measles is making a come back because of parents not vaccinating their children," Dr. Leana Wen, Baltimore City Health Commissioner, told ABC2.  

"Panel of Baltimore-Area Doctors, Health Officials Discuss Measles” (FOX45 News - February 9, 2015)

Feb 10th, 2015

The CDC puts the latest measles outbreak numbers at 121 cases in 17 states, and growing. On Monday in Baltimore, "Measles Rises Again: The Science and Policy of a Preventable Outbreak" was the title of a symposium at the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. A panel of the area's top doctors and public health officials spoke about the status of the current outbreak as well as the effectiveness of the vaccine and problems with a minority of parents who refuse to vaccinate their children, putting the rest of the public at risk. They did say Monday that 99% of Baltimore City's public school children are up to date on the vaccine, and that Maryland has one of the highest rates of vaccination in the country
 

"Doctors to Vaccine Doubters: Get Your Kids Vaccinated" (NBC News - February 9, 2015)

Feb 10th, 2015

Baltimore-area doctors made a public stand in favor of vaccines Monday, standing literally shoulder to shoulder to urge holdouts to get their kids vaccinated against measles. "Ours is an unequivocal message. Vaccines are safe, they are effective, and they save lives every single day," Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen said as the group stood up in front of a seminar about measles at the Johns Hopkins University school of public health. "The Disneyland outbreak raises the real risk that measles may come roaring back. We have come too far to let that happen," the group said in a statement.

"Baltimore experts urge widespread measles vaccination" (Daily Record - February 9, 2015)

Feb 10th, 2015

In the wake of the Disneyland measles outbreak, Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen is urging all parents to vaccinate their children against measles and other preventable diseases. Wen will be joined by a coalition of pediatricians and public health experts at a symposium Monday afternoon at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The topic is “Measles Rises Again: The Science and Policy of a Preventative Outbreak.” Wen — who said the recent outbreak should be a “wake-up call” to parents and caregivers — and 15 other experts signed a consensus statement in favor of widespread vaccination.

"Amid measles outbreak, public health officials take on obstacles to vaccination" (Baltimore Sun - February 9, 2015)

Feb 10th, 2015

After the worst month for measles in more than two decades, public health officials gathered at the Johns Hopkins University on Monday to talk about ways to prevent 2015 from becoming the worst year for the disease. Local, state and federal officials spoke of boosting vaccination rates against the highly contagious and potentially deadly disease by making it more difficult for parents to claim exemptions for religious or personal beliefs, by reaching out to those who refuse vaccinations and by better tracking of children who are not vaccinated.

"Maryland health leaders call for law requiring docs to report immunizations" (Baltimore Business Journal - February 9, 2015)

Feb 10th, 2015

An outbreak of measles spreading across the country is prompting Maryland health officials to take a closer look at its policies for tracking immunizations. Several public health officials on Monday participated in a panel discussion about state and local response to measles at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen, Baltimore County's top health officer Dr. George Wm. Branch, and former Maryland Health Secretary Dr. Joshua Sharfstein (now an associate dean at Hopkins) all emphasized the need for Maryland to stay vigilant about infectious diseases despite its high vaccination rates.

"Sunday Q&A: Leana Wen, Health Commissioner for Baltimore City" (WBAL-TV - February 8, 2015)

Feb 9th, 2015

Health Commisisoner Dr. Leana Wen was the Q & A segment guest on WBAL-TV on February 8, 2015, speaking about the health future for Baltimore.

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