Prep Talk - Episode 26: Infectious Diseases

The best way to prevent the measles is to get the vaccine. That is the message Dr. Demetre Daskalakis — Deputy Commissioner for the Division of Disease Control at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene — has for listeners on the latest episode of “Prep Talk.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been 127 confirmed cases of measles in 10 states across the country from January 1 to February 14, 2019. In this episode, Dr. Daskalakis debunks myths about the measles, provides vaccination tips for travelers, pregnant women and parents of newborns, and explains why two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine are better than one. The episode also takes a close look at influenza and the best methods of preventing the virus, the steps Dr. Daskalakis his team are taking to end the HIV epidemic in New York City. For more information about the measles, flu virus, and other infectious diseases, visit NYC.gov/health or www.cdc.gov. Read full transcript: on.nyc.gov/preptalk26