Rehoboth Nurses Notes April 2025

Spring has sprung and for many of us that means a foray into gardens, fields and glens! It also means we are likely to meet our friends, the ticks and mosquitos. I am providing the link here to access the most current information on protecting oneself from the little demons. I will be hosting an educational series, beginning on April 3rd in the Arcade building at 27 Francis Farm Rd. here in Rehoboth. The program begins at 11am. This presentation, the first of monthly educational series, will discuss tick and mosquito borne illnesses.
https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/about/index.html 

During this program, I will also be providing an update on the measles outbreak that began in Texas and has spread to many other states. Though there is a case in RI, we do not have any documented cases in Ma. as of this writing. As a public health nurse, I insist on respecting the dignity and informed decision of the individual. However the focus of the public health nurse is unique in that, the goal is the health and wellbeing of the community. To that end, I use science and evidence-based research to be sure I am doing right by my community. During each of the upcoming educational programs I will present the science and research related to the topic of discussion. I began this paragraph writing about the measles outbreak. Protection from measles has long been best achieved using the MMR vaccination, a vaccine provided to children at 18 months and 4 years of age. Measles has been considered eradicates in the US since the year 2000. However, this was a long and arduous task. The vaccine was approved for use in children in 1968 and the goal was to eradicate the virus by 1982. This goal was not met; however, the incidence of disease decreased by 80%. In 1989, after another 8 years of research, it was discovered that a second dose, just prior to starting school, further protected children and over the next 9 years measles was considered eradicated in the US. The following are the some of the consequences and sequela of the measles:

• Hospitalization. About 1 in 5 unvaccinated people in the U.S. who get measles is hospitalized.
• Pneumonia. As many as 1 out of every 20 children with measles gets pneumonia, the most common cause of death from measles in young children.
• Encephalitis. About 1 child out of every 1,000 who get measles will develop encephalitis (swelling of the brain). This can lead to convulsions and leave the child deaf or with intellectual disability.
• Death. Nearly 1 to 3 of every 1,000 children who become infected with measles will die from respiratory and neurologic complications.
• Complications during pregnancy. If you are pregnant and have not had the MMR vaccine, measles may cause birth prematurely, or have a low-birth-weight baby.

Long-term complications

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a very rare, but fatal disease of the central nervous system. It results from a measles virus infection acquired earlier in life.
About SSPE
• SSPE generally develops 7 to 10 years after a person has measles, even though the person seems to have fully recovered from the illness.
• Since measles was eliminated in 2000, SSPE is rarely reported in the United States.
• Among people who contracted measles during the resurgence in the United States in 1989 to 1991, 7 to 11 out of every 100,000 were estimated to be at risk for developing SSPE.
• The risk of developing SSPE may be higher for a person who gets measles before they are 2 years of age.

https://www.cdc.gov/measles/signs-symptoms/index.html 

Conversely, the possible side-effects of the vaccination include:

Most people don't have any side effects from the vaccine. The side effects that do occur are usually mild, and may include:
• Soreness, redness, or swelling where the vaccine was given
• Fever
• Mild rash
• Temporary pain and stiffness in the joints
More serious side effects are rare. These may include high fever that could cause a seizure.

For further information on the measles virus, please go to:
https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/history.html 

The children will be on school break during various weeks in April, so watch out for children who are out and about in your neighborhoods. Be extra careful if you see children out on their bicycles on the road. As I always say, Webels wobble, but children can fall down. So, give them a wide berth and please stick to the speed limits out there. Parents, please be sure your children are easy to see, bright clothing, and that they are wearing helmets. I also STRONGLY encourage that children are not on the main roads of Rehoboth and that a responsible adult is with your child/children while on their bikes.

Just a quick reminder about the other ongoing offerings here at the public health nurse office: We have the BP screening clinics at the Senior Center on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:30-1pm. The bereavement support group continues to run on Wednesday morning from 9:30am- 10:30am. Home bound wellness check are available by appointment on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 12:30-4pm. The next wellness education presentation will be on breast health, on May 7th at 11am. The next podiatry clinic is on May 1st, by appointment. For further information on our services and other health information please visit the Town of Rehoboth website and go to the Public Health Nurses page.

Here to true Spring weather and we’ll chat again in May.

Be kind, be safe, be healthy,

Sincerely,

Geri