Measles In CT: What You Need To Know

Earlier this month, officials from the Connecticut Department of Public Health (D.P.H.) reported a third confirmed case of the measles in Connecticut that was determined to be unrelated to the first two illnesses reported back in January. Health officials confirmed the most recent case involved an adult in New Haven County who had recently visited Brooklyn, New York- an area currently experiencing an ongoing measles outbreak.

The growing number of measles cases in Connecticut is concerning for state health officials and has heightened fears that an outbreak could be in our state’s future by the end of the year if residents are not cautious. To help reduce the spread of the measles in our communities, all Connecticut residents should be educated on the virus and how to protect themselves from contracting it. By spreading awareness, you can help keep you, your family, and your neighbors safe from this unnecessary and harmful disease.

Facts To Know About The Measles

According to a recent report by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (C.D.C.), the number of affirmed measles cases in our nation for the initial three months of 2019 has just exceeded the whole number of cases in 2018. There are a lot of myths and stories circulating about the measles right now which do not help prevent the spread of this dangerous virus. Here are the essential facts to know about the measles to keep your loved one safe:

What Is The Measles:  Measles is a highly infectious illness caused by the rubeola virus, a strain affecting the lungs and breathing tubes leading to several uncomfortable and possibly life-threatening consequences.

Who Is At Risk: Children younger than 5-years-old and adults older than 20 years of age are most at risk from measles complications. Pregnant women and individuals with compromised immune systems are also at risk.

How Does It Spread: The transmission of the measles is primarily person to person via large respiratory droplets. It is most commonly spread by coughing and sneezing. It can live up to two hours in the air. Most of the recent measles outbreaks in the United States were the result of travelers bringing the disease home with them from overseas. The virus has spread quickly through unvaccinated populations within the travelers’ communities.

What Are The Signs and Symptoms: Measles symptoms appear around 10 to 14 days after a person is exposed to the virus. Signs and symptoms of measles typically include:

The reddish-brown rash appears around 3 to 4 days after initial symptoms. The rash usually begins behind the ears and spreads over the head and neck. Following two or three days, it spreads to the remainder of the body, including the legs. As the spots develop, they start to combine.

What Are The Health Consequences: In addition to uncomfortable symptoms, the measles can lead to pneumonia, encephalitis (swelling in the brain), convulsions, deafness, intellectual disabilities, central nervous system disorders, or even death.

How To Prevent The Measles

The only way to fully protect yourself from contracting the measles virus is through the MMR immunization. The MMR vaccine provides safeguard against the measles, mumps, and rubella and is exceptionally effective. According to the C.D.C., one dose is about 93 percent effective at preventing the contagious disease if you come into contact with the virus, and two doses are about 97 percent effective. It is recommended that children receive the vaccine in two doses: the first between the ages of 12 months and 15 months and the second between the ages of 4 and 6 years old.

The resurgence of measles in the United States is spurring a backlash against vaccine critics and even sparking congressional hearings investigating the spread of vaccine misinformation. In some areas of New York with dense populations of unvaccinated individuals, city and state officials are taking extreme measures to protect the public by banning people who have not been immunized from specific public settings (such as schools) to help contain the virus from spreading further.

It’s important to note we are not advocating for either side of the vaccine issue. While we believe it is the right of every parent and individuals to decide if they will vaccinate their children and themselves, we also believe in the power of spreading awareness to help those who are looking for more information on the issues make a formulated and educated decision.

Connecticut Safety Advocates and Personal Injury Attorneys

At the law firm of Jacobs & Wallace, we have been advocating for the health and safety of Connecticut residents for over 40 years. If you or a loved has sustained an unnecessary illness due to negligence, contact us for a free consultation to review your case and your rights today.

Drivers who use their cellphones behind the wheel can cause horrific and deadly accidents. In Connecticut, it’s against the law to drive while using a hand-held phone and even illegal for drivers under the age of 18 to use hands-free devices.

Even though the risks are grave, not everyone is as supportive about reducing distractions on the road as others, especially when it comes to phones. Many employers who encourage employees to use their cellphones for work also support the use of these devices behind the wheel if their employees work remotely or travel.  In cases where cellphone use leads to a traffic accident, employers could be liable for putting their employee’s lives at risk.

To help keep all drivers safe on the roads, workers and employers must understand the dangers of using cellphones behind the wheel. Taking the chance to get a little extra work done in your car is not worth the price of a life, and spreading awareness is the first step to reducing these tragic accidents.

Driving For Work Can Be Deadly

Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of work-related fatalities in the country according to the Center For Disease Control and Prevention. Millions of American workers get behind the wheel or in a passenger seat of a vehicle for their jobs every day, and distractions during this time are one of the main reasons these accidents occur.

Cellphones have become one of the most deadly distractions for any driver on our roads. Approximately 1.6 million accidents result from cellphone use every year according to AMAXX Worker’s Comp Resource Center, and more functions popup every minute that take driver’s attention off the roads.

Any employee who works using their cellphone while on the road is unnecessarily putting themselves at risk. AMAXX reports that people who drive while talking on the phone are up to four times more likely to be in a vehicle accident- those who text are up to eight times more likely.

Unfortunately, employers are making it easier than ever to continue working out of an office environment. Company apps and work cellphones put additional pressure on employees to always stay on top of their work, even when they are supposed to be focusing on driving. Though it may seem that all of the downtime in the car is the perfect opportunity to catch up on work, experts have shown that multi-tasking while driving is having a devastating result on the safety of our roads.

Drivers- You Cannot Multitask

You may think you are an excellent multitasker in your car, but chances are, others can tell your focus is not entirely on driving.

In a safety campaign titled The Great Multitasking Lie, the National Safety Council is attempting to debunk the overall myth that multitasking behind the wheel is safe. Here are the four most common misconceptions about multitasking:

After looking at the data, it is astonishing that employers would encourage these dangerous behaviors to get a little bit of extra work completed, but most of these myths are widely believed. Employers may believe they are protecting their employees when encouraging the use of Bluetooth devices or handsfree gadgets to work while driving when they are putting their workers at risk. More awareness needs to be spread about these myths and the dangers of distracted driving to help reduce the rising numbers of transportation accidents on the job.

What Employers Should Be Doing To Protect Employees

Even if an employer does not outwardly encourage the use of cellphones while driving at work, they can still be held liable for damages sustained if the employee is on shift or in a work vehicle.  Employers who continue conversations with employees they know are driving or do not say anything when they see an employee using their cellphone behind the wheel are just as accountable as employees who heavily suggest that their employees should do work behind the wheel.  By not talking to employees about the dangers of cellphone use while driving or creating/enforcing policies to hinder it, employers are showing a type of support for the behavior, and more accidents will continue to occur because of it.

Employers can help keep their workers safe on the job by implementing a Distracted Driving Policy highlighting the risks of cellphone use behind the wheel. To start, AMAXX recommends incorporating a policy that bans all employees from using their cellphones while driving on the job in a company vehicle. The policy should include all work-related communications and any communication on company cell phones or hands-free devices. Distracted driving policies should also include

To take the pressure off employees to use their cellphone while driving and promote a distraction-free work culture, employers can make changes such as:

Connecticut Workers’ Compensation and Workplace Accidents Attorneys

Jacobs & Wallace is a successful personal injury and workers’ compensation firm that has over 40 years of combined expertise to offer our clients. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, our knowledgeable team is here to fight back for you. Contact us today for a free consultation and to discuss your case with one of our amazing team members.

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