National

“When America Sneezes We Catch A Cold”

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Cases of measles are popping up across the world, including in the United States, where there are now hundreds of confirmed cases.

Published

1 week ago

March 12, 2025

Joshua Williams

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – While there’ve been no reported cases here in The Bahamas, a local pediatrician says now is not the time for parents to let their guards down. Our Joshua Williams tells us why in this report.

A measles outbreak in the United States has health officials concerned, especially when it comes to children.

The biggest outbreak was reported in Texas, which has over 200 confirmed cases. Children and teens make up the majority of patients.

And with over 20 years as a pediatrician here at home, Dr. Dashawn Saunders says parents should be on their guard.

Dr. Dashawn Saunders – Pediatrician
“In the last 50 years, measles is something new in the textbook. Even for me, I’m graduating from medical school about 20 years ago, it’s something that I read about. Now, as a clinician, I need to be able to do measles walking through the door. And so we as clinicians, we have now, I have to ourselves with the tools and the experience to identify myself because it’s very contagious.”

Measles is an infection caused by a virus that spreads easily and could be fatal.

And while death rates are down worldwide as more children receive the appropriate vaccine, it still kills more than 200,000 people a year.

Here are the symptoms you should look for.

Dr. Dashawn Saunders – Pediatrician
“But if a kid has fever that’s persisting three days… but the trick about measles—the kid gets very sick. And so, yes, kids may have a cough, a runny nose, they’re still active, they’re eating, they’re playing. But with a kid that has measles, they’ll be sick, they’ll be lethargic, they don’t wanna eat. Measles—it starts on the forehead, then it moves behind the ears. This is a rash that actually starts on the face and then it progresses downwards. So you have certain spots in the mouth called Coptic spots.”

The Ministry of Health and Wellness says they’re monitoring the situation, and while no cases have been reported, the MMR vaccine is available for free at government clinics.

Despite speculation and misinformation, Dr. Saunders says it’s necessary, especially for children.

Dr. Dashawn Saunders – Pediatrician
“Given the first dose, that gives you 92% coverage and made it gives you 92% protection. It doesn’t mean you won’t get the disease, but if you were to be exposed, your symptoms would be mild. And then with the second dose, it gives you 96% coverage.”

Dr. Dashawn Saunders – Pediatrician
“If you see your kid is sick, not doing very—lethargic, not eating, an active—that’s a kid that needs to go to the clinic, I would say. Because if it is measles, this is the kid that you want to isolate. Open population with your other patients, because it’s so contagious, other kids can get sick.”