THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

♪♪] >> JEFF: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION."

>> COMING UP TONIGHT, THE RETURN OF THE MEASLES.

WHAT PARENTS AND ALL OF US NEED TO KNOW.

BUT FIRST TONIGHT THEY ARE PRETTY, THEY ARE COLORFUL THEY ARE EVERYWHERE AND OFFICIALS WANT YOU TO KILL THEM.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LATEST INVASIVE PEST IN OUR REGION, THE SPOTTED LANTERNFLY.

JOINING US IS MIKE RAUPP OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF ENTOMOLOGY UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> JEFF GOOD TO BE HERE AND THERE THEY ARE THE LANTERN FLIES ARRIVED.

>> WHERE DID THEY COME FROM?

>> THESE CAME FROM ASIA AND THEY SNUCK IN WITH A LOAD OF MASONRY MATERIAL EGG MASSES PRIOR TO 2014, MAYBE 2012.

THEY WIND UP IN BURKES COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA.

IN THE 2018 THEY CROSSED THE MARYLAND LINE THEY WERE UP IN CECIL COUNTY.

NOW WE FIND THEM IN ALL OF OUR COUNTIES EXCEPT ST.MARY'S AND THEY'VE MOVED 600 MILES IN 18 STATES.

THEY ARE GOING TO BE AROUND FOR A WHILE.

>> Jeff: WHY DO OFFICIALS WANT US TO KILL THESE THINGS?

OR MAYBE THE HORSE IS OUT OF THE BARN AT THIS POINT?

>> UNFORTUNATELY THE HORSE IS OUT OF THE BARN.

BUT THESE HAVE CAUSED DRAMATIC LOSSES IN OUR VINEYARDS AND THAT IS WHERE THE BIG PROBLEM IS ECONOMICALLY.

THEY CAN KILL GRAPEVINES THEY HAVE DONE SO IN PENNSYLVANIA THAT IS WHERE THE THREAT OF THE SPOTTED LANTERNFLY IS IN THE ECONOMIC TERMS.

NOW, FOR A RESIDENT IN THE LANDSCAPE, WE ONCE TUGHT THAT MAYBE KILLED TREES AND BUSHES THAT IS NOT THE CASE.

THE ONLY TREE THEY KILL IS THE TREE OF HEAVEN, THE TREE BETTY SMITH TALKED ABOUT, THE TREE THAT GROWS IN BROOKLYN.

BUT IT IS INVASIVE SO THEY KILL AN INVASIVE SPECIES MAYBE THAT IS NOT THE WORST THING IN THE WORLD.

IN THE RESIDENTIAL LAND SCAPE AS THE INSECTS FEED THEY WILL EXCRETE A WASTE PRODUCT CALLED HONEYDEW.

NOT LIKE THE HONEY-DO LIST.

>> Jeff: OR LIKE THE MELON?

>> NO.

IT RAINS BELOW AND CREATES A NONPATHOGENIC FUNGUS THAT TURNS THE VEGETATION BLACK.

IT DOESN'T KILL THE PLANTS BUT IT BLOCKS PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND IT WILL CAUSE THE PLANTS TO DECLINE.

IN THE REN SAL LANDSCAPE, THE HONEYDEW WILL ATTRACT BEES, WASPS, YELLOW JACKETS NOW WE HAVE A HEALTHISTIC AND THAT IS MY PRIMARY CONCERN ABOUT THE SPOTTED LANTERNFLY.

IS THE RISK IT POSES WHEN WE HAVE LARGE NUMBERS OF THESE THINGS IN SOMEBODY'S LANDSCAPE.

>> Jeff: I'VE DONE MY PART I'VE SQUISHED A COUPLE OF THEM AND I FEEL BAD.

>> DON'T FEEL BAD.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS LEFT?

ARE THESE GOING TO TAKEOVER THE WORLD?

>> NO, WE'VE ALREADY SEEN WE SAID THERE'S NOTHING HERE THAT EATS A SPOTTED LANTERNFLY.

WE NOW HAVE MORE THAN A THOUSAND OBSERVATIONS PREYING MANTISES, WASPS, ASSASSIN BUGS 20 SPECIES OF BIRDS ARE EATING THESE THINGS.

IT'S MOTHER NATURE'S HIT SQUAD.

OUTSIDE OF READING PENNSYLVANIA IN 2018, THE POPULATIONS COLLAPSED DUE TO TWO OCCURRING FUNGY FOUND IN THE SOIL.

MOTHER NATURE WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

POPULATIONS ARE ON THE DECLINE.

FINGERSROSSED THIS WILL GET BETTER.

>> Jeff: IF ANYBODY HAS A QUESTION FOR MIKE THE BUG GUY SEND US AN E-MAIL AT LIVE QUESTIONS AT MPT.ORG.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT INTERESTS ME ABOUT THIS IS NOT PARTICULARLY THE ONES IN YOUR BOX BUT THE ONES I TOOK PICTURES OF ON TREES AT HOME.

THEY ARE NOT CAMOUFLAGED.

I MEAN THEY ARE BRIGHT RED WITH SPOTS.

AND FROM A NATURAL SELECTION STANDPOINT, ARE THEY THAT'S TO ATTRACT MATES?

IS IT ALSO GOING TO ATTRACT PREDATORS?

>> YEAH, THEY ARE CLEVER.

THERE IS AN INTERESTING STORY BEHIND THIS WHEN THEY FIRST HATCH OUT THE FIRST IN STAR WHAT WE CALL THE FIRST STAGE, JET BLACK WITH WHITE POLKA DOTS.

IN THE LAST STAGE THEY TURN BRILLIANT SCARLETT RED AND THIS IS WHAT WE CALL WARNING COLORATION.

IT TURNS OUT THE TREE OF HEAVEN CONTAINS TOXIC COMPOUNDS AND WHEN THE SPOTTED LANTERNFLIES FEED ON THE TREE OF HEAVEN THEY WILL TAKE THESE COMPOUNDS IN AND THEY THEMSELVES WILL BECOME NOXIOUS FOR PREDATORS.

IF YOU WILL NOTICE WHEN I SHAKE THESE UP YOU WILL SEE THE BRIGHT RED COLORS ON THE WINGS.

>> Jeff: IF THEY ARE FLYING, LET THEM LOOSE IN THE STUDIO.

>> WE ARE NOT DOING THAT JEFF, SORRY.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY ARE ON THE TREE TRY TO CATCH THEM THEY WILL JUMP THE FIRST MODE OF ESCAPE WHEN A HIT THE GROUND THEIR WINGS WILL SPREAD SHOWING OFF THAT COLORATION.

RED AND BLACK ARE MOTHER NATURE'S SIGNAL DON'T MESS WITH ME.

THAT IS WHY WE SEE THAT BRILLIANTED COLORATION.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS A LIGHT RED ON A BLACK SHIRT WITH YELLOW OUTLINES THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND.

>> IT MEANS FEAR THE TURTLE.

>> Jeff: I SAW A CICADA SHELL ON A TREE IN MY YARD I DIDN'T THINK THIS IS A CICADA YEAR.

>> THESE ARE THE ANNUAL CICADAS AND THEY ARE OUT IN FORCE.

THIS IS THEIR SEASON THEY START TO SHOW UP MID-JUNE.

THEY WILL BE SINGING THEIR HEARTS OUT.

PROBABLY UNTIL SEPTEMBER WHEN THEY WILL BE FINISHED THERE.

>> Jeff: SOMEBODY'S GETTING THEM IN NUMBERS THIS YEAR, THOUGH, RIGHT?

>> THIS IS BROOD 14.

I BELIEVE THERE WERE 15 STATES NATIONWIDE STARTING UP IN MASSACHUSETTS IN A BROAD SWATH THROUGH PENNSYLVANIA, NEW YORK, INTO THE CENTRAL PART OF THE COUNTRY.

THIS WAS BROOD 14.

SO PEOPLE DID HAVE PERIODICAL CICADAS.

WE MISSED THEM THOUGH.

>> Jeff: WHEN ARE WE DUE?

>> WE WILL HAVE SOME WITHIN THE NEXT DECADE.

THERE ARE SEVERAL BROODS WE HAVE 15 BROODS ALMOST ANY YEAR IN SOME PLACE IN THE COUNTRY, THERE WILL BE PERIODICAL CICADAS APPEARING.

THEY ARE NOT FAR OFF.

>> Jeff: VIEWER QUESTION IT SEEMS MY BLACKBERRY PLANTS HAVE FEWER JAPANESE BEATLES SINCE THE SPOTTED LANTERNFLY ARRIVED IS THAT COMMON?

>> IT'S NOT COMMON BUT WHAT HAPPENED IF YOU WILL REMEMBER LAST YEAR WE WERE IN A SEVERE DROUGHT.

JAPANESE BEETLES DEPEND ON MOISTURE DURING JUNE AND JULY WHEN THEY LAY THEIR EGGS IN THE SOIL.

WHEN WE COME INTO DROUGHTY SITUATIONS HIGH HEA LOW MOISTURE IS CAUSES DEATH OF THE JAPANESE BEATLE EGGS AND THE LARVA THAT HATCH SO WE CAN THANK LAST YEAR'S DROUGHT FOR MUCH LOWER POPULATIONS OF JAPANESE BEATLES THIS YEAR.

THE FACT YOU GOT LANTERN FLIES MAKES UP FOR IT BUT IT'S LAST YEAR'S DROUGHT HELPED TO COLLAPSE THE JAPANESE BEETLE POPULATION.

>> WE WERE HAVING AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION ABOUT LIGHTNING BUGS AND THERE WAS A RUMOR OR MAYBE A NEWS STORY THEY WERE IN TROUBLE.

>> SOMETHING CAME UP ABOUT SIX WEEKS AGO THIS WOULD BE THE LAST GENERATION WE COULD SEE LIGHTNING BUGS.

I MOVED TO COLUMBIA IN 1986.

IT'S 2025.

THAT'S AT LEASTWO GENERATIONS I HAVE TO SAY THIS HAS BEEN A SPECTACULAR FOR LIGHTNING BUGS IN MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY INCLUDING RIGHT HERE IN THE DMV, THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY HAS BEEN GREAT.

THIS IS MAYBE NOT EXACTLY CORRECT.

AND I'M VERY SKEPTICAL THAT MY CHILDREN'S CHILDREN'S CHILDREN'S WILL NOT SEE LIGHTNING BUGS.

>> Jeff: THANK GOODNESS WHAT IS BETTER WHEN YOU ARE A LITTLE KID?

>> MOTHER NATURE'S FIREWORKS YOU CATCH THEM IN A JAR AND WATCH THEM AS I TOLD MY FOUR-YEAR-OLD GRANDSON JACKIE, IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO GO TO BED AND LET THE LIGHTNING BUGS GO.

>> Jeff: NOT A GLOBAL PHENOMENON?

IF WE WANTED TO RETALIATE AGAINST THESE THINGS CAME FROM ASIA, WE SHOULD PACK UP LIGHTNING BUGS.

SEND THEM OVER.

>> WE HAVE.

WE'VE SENT OVER A PEST THEY CALL THE WHITE MOTH IN CHINA ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FOREST PESTS.

IN THE UNITED STATES WE CALL IT THE WET WORM THE THING THAT IS MAKING SHADE TREES RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S TIT FOR TAT AND WE SEND SOME OF OUR PESTS TO OTHER PLACES AROUND THE WORLD.

>> Jeff: ANOTHER VIEWER QUESTION ON THE SPOTTED LANTERNFLIES THEY ARE ATTACHING TO MY GRAPEVINES.

WHAT I CAN'T VACUUM UP WITH A DUST BUSTER I'VE BEEN SPRAYING WITH NEIMAN MARCUS OIL WILL THAT WORK?

>> THERE ARE COMPOUNDS WHAT WE LIKE TO RECOMMEND FOR THESE ARE THE ONES THAT CARRY A LITTLE LABEL THAT SAYS OMRI.

ORGANIC MATERIAL REVIEW INSTITUTE.

THESE ARE COMPOUNDS SO SAFE THEY ARE USED IN ORGANIC FOOD PRODUCTION AND NEME OIL IS ONE, SOME OF OUR INSECTICIDAL SOAPS AND HORTICULTUL OILS WILL WORK TO KILL THOSE SPOTTED LANTNFLY.

GOOD WORK WITH THE VACUUM.

KEEP GETTING THE GUY OFF AND SCRAPE OFF THE EGG MASSES WHEN THEY SHOW UP LATER THIS YEAR.

>> Jeff: WE STRUCK OUR VIEWERS WITH THE SPOTTED LANTERNFLY.

>> I HOPE IT WAS A GOOD NERVE.

>> Jeff: ARE BIRDS EATING THE SPOTTED LANTERNFLIES?

I HAD AN INFESTATION OF THE FLIES THIS YEAR.

>> YES.

THE BIRD ALSO EAT THEM NO QUESTION.

>> Jeff: DESPITE THEIR WARNING COLORS?

>> BUT WHAT THE BIRDS WILL DO COMPOUNDS ARE CONCENTRATED IN THE WINGS.

SO I HAD A COLONY OF SPOTTED LANTERNFLIES, I CAUGHT A CHINESE PREYING MANTIS AND I PUT IT IN THERE AND IT GRABBED A SPOTTED LANTERNFLY AND A SECOND IN THE OTHER AND IT ATE ONE AND ATE THE OTHER AND LEFT BEHIND THE WINGS.

THE WINGS WILL BE LEFT BEHIND BUT THE BODY HAS LOWER CONCENTRATIONS OF THE NOXIOUS COMPOUNDS.

>> Jeff: THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

IT'S AMAZING.

>> BIRDS ARE INCREDIBLE.

>> Jeff: THE BUG OF THE WEEK WEBSITE WHAT IS THE HOTTEST POST THERE?

>> OH, MY GOD, MY GOSH IT IS A STORY ABOUT A PREDATOR WHICH WE CALL THE WHEEL BUG OR ASSASSIN BUG.

ONE OF MY LONGEST VIDEOS BUT WHAT IT WILL DO IS STALK THE CATERPILLAR AND SNEAKS BEHIND THE CATPILLAR AND IT WILL THEN GO TOWARDS THE HEAD AND REACH OUT AND TOUCH IT AND THEN IT WILL POUNCE ON THE CATERPILLAR.

THIS HAS BEEN WATCHED ABOUT 12,000 TIMES.

GOOD ENTERTAINMENT APPARENTLY.

>> Jeff: BUG OF THE WEEK WEBSITE.

PEOPLE REMEMBER SEEING YOU OVER THE YEARS ON INFESTATIONS VARIOUS THINGS WE'VE HAD.

NOW THAT YOU HAVE TRANSITIONED FROM BEING A PROFESSOR TO AN PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF ENTOMOLOGY UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, AS PROFESSORS GO THROUGH LIFE CYCLES LIKE THE FLIES I'M CURIOUS WHAT HAPPENS DO YOU GROW WINGS?

IS THERE A SKELETON YOU COULD >> SURE.

US?

YOU KNOW IT'S LIKE FOR 17 YEARS, YOU KNOW THEY KEEP ME DOWN IN A BASEMENT WRITING GRANTS AND PAPERS.

WHEN YOU RETIRE YOU'RE FREE YOU COME OUT INTO THE WORLD.

YOU CAN VISIT BUGS VISIT CHILDREN GO ON VACATIONS TELL BUG STORIES AND HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND ALL THE COOL THINGS INSECTS DO.

>> Jeff: KIND OF YOU TO STO BY.

ALWAYS THERE IS A FIGHT BREWING IN THIS THING.

MIKE, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> PLEASURE FOR HAVING ME.

>> Jeff: THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC RETURNS TO BALTIMORE WITH A NEW COURSE AND THE ADDITION OF FEMALE RIDERS.

CHARLES ROBINSON LAYS OUT THE CHANGES TO ONE OF THE PREMIER RACES IN THE U.S. [CHEERING].

>> IT TOOK A VILLAGE TO GET US HERE AND IT'S NOT JUST THE ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION BUT IT STAKES THE STATE, IT TAKES THE CITY AND PARTNERS IN THE COUNTY WHY WE NEEDED TO SHIFT THE DYNAMICS ADDING THE WOMEN'S RACE.

>> ONE YEAR HIATUS FOR THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC ALLOWED ORGANIZERS TO REIMAGINE THE 18-MILE TREK.

THE ENTIRE RACE WILL TAKE PLACE INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS FOR THE FIRST TIME THERE WILL BE A WOMEN'S RACE WHICH WILL PRECEDE THE MEN'S RACE.

OFFICIALS SET SPECIAL VIEWING SECTIO INCLUDING ONE IN PATTERSON PARK ALONG THE RACE PATH.

THE CYCLING CLASSIC TAKES PLACE ON SEPTEMBER 6 AND WILL BE CELEBRATED AS A PART OF A BIG SPORTS WEEKEND IN BALTIMORE.

THE ORIOLES WILL HONOR CAL RIPKEN'S IRON MAN STREAK AND KAITLAN CLARK AND THE INDIANA FEVER WILL BE IN TOWN TO PLAY THE WASHINGTON MYSTICS AT THE CFG BANK ARENA.

GARNERED NEARLY $12 MILLION IN REVENUE LAST TIME THE RACE WAS HELD IN CHARM CITY.

>> CLASSIC IS A SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO SEE WORLD CLASS CYCLING RACING FOR THE PRICE OF FREE 99.

AND WE'RE ANTICIPATING 100,000 SPECTATORS CITYWIDE.

>> ONE OF THOSE WHO WILL BE RETURNING IS SCOTT McGILL A PROFESSIONAL CYCLIST FOR PROJECT EXCELON RACING.

>> WHEN I WAS 13 OR 14 YEARS OLD DREAMING OF BECOMING A PRO CYCLIST AND RACE ON ROADS I'VE BEEN CLOSE TO ME, I WOULD SAY FOR SO LONG IS AWESOME.

>> SO MUCH OF THIS RACE HAPPENS ON BLACKTOP.

AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY GET TO COBBLE STONE.

>> YOU CAN MAKE A PLAN BUT YOU HAVE TO BE ADAPTABLE DURING THE RACE.

NOBODY KNOWS HOW IT'S GOING TO PLAY OUT.

YOU CAN RECONBUT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO KNOW WHAT EVERYONE ELSE IS GOING TO THINK ABOUT THE RACE AND THE COURSE AND HOW IT IT IS GOING TO DICTATE THE TACTICS.

>> McGILL HOPES TO USE HIS LOCAL KNOWLEDGE TO HIS ADVANTAGE BUT HE WILL BE CHALLENGED BY ALL OF HIS FELLOW CYCLISTS WHO BELIEVE THEY CAN CLAIM VICTORY IN BALTIMORE.

I'M CHARLES ROBINSON.

>> Jeff: MPT'S ALL DAY RACING COVERAGE BEGINS 8:00 A.M. ON SEPTEMBER 6TH WITH THE MPT SPORTS DESK GO TO MPT.ORG/MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC FOR ALL THE INFORMATION.

[♪♪] AND JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT YOUR HEALTH IS Dr. ESTHER KIM LIU, CHIEF OF PEDIATRICS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE WASHINGTON MEDICAL CENTER.

DOCTOR, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Jeff: WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH MEASLES.

LONG THOUGHT GONE BUT BACK.

>> MEASLES WAS CONSIDERED IRRADICATED IN THE U.S.

IN 2000.

BUT WORLDWIDE MEASLES HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 9TH CENTURY.

>> Jeff: HOW SERIOUS A MEDICAL CONCERN IS IT?

>> MEASLES IS CONCERNING FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.

ONE IS THE LONG-TERM POTENTIAL COMPLICATIONS AND ALSO BECAUSE IT'S AN INDICATOR FOR US IN TERMS OF ESPECIALLY PUBLIC HEALTH, OF OUR VACCINATION RATES.

>> AND HISTORICALLY MARYLAND HAS DONE WELL IN TERMS OF THE LUP TAKE OF VACCINES ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF THINGS WE VACCINATE FOR.

>> MARYLAND IS LUCKY.

WE MAINTAINED WELL ABOVE THE 95% MARK WHICH IS WHAT WE CONSIDER TO BE REALLY SAFE FOR OUR POPULATION.

THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, THOUGH, ESPECIALLY SINCE COVID WE HAVE HAD A SIGNIFICANT DROP IN VACCINATION RATES WHICH IS OUR CONCERN FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE AS WE SEE THESE OUTBREAKS OCCUR.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT MEASLES THAT YOU WANT PARENTS TO KNOW?

>> I THINK PREVENTION.

PEDIATRICIAN, FOR ME IN TERMS OF HEALTH IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT PREVENTION.

WE'D RATHER PREVENT ILLNESS -- AND DISEASE INSTEAD OF TRIEDING IT AFTER.

WE KNOW VACCINES ARE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE.

PARENTS HAVE CONCERNED WHEN THEY HAVE KIDS, WE'RE ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT MORE CAREFUL, MORE THAN FOR OURSELVES.

OUR CHILDREN ARE SO PRECIOUS TO US.

SO I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST HITS THAT THE MEASLES VACCINE TOOK WAS A PAPER THAT WAS PUBLISHED ABOUT A LINK BETWEEN THE MEASLES VACCINE AND AUTISM.

>> Jeff: BIG CONCERN.

I THINK THAT'S BEEN DEBUNKED.

>> IT HAS.

>> Jeff: HOW DO YOU PROVE TO A PARENT AS YOU SAY WHO CARES ABOUT THEIR KIDS IT'S BEEN DEBUNKED?

>> SURE.

WITH ANYTHING IN HEALTH, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT FAMILIES AND THEIR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER BUILD TRUST IN A RELATIONSHIP.

AND WITH THAT TRUST AND RELATIONSHIP THERE CAN BE THAT DISCUSSION AND THAT PASSAGE OF INFORMATION.

SO I CAN GIVE MY FAMILIES INFORMATION OF HERE'S WHAT THE SCIENCE SHOWS.

NOTHING IS WITHOUT RISK.

SO I RESPECT YOUR RISK AVERSETY WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR MOST PRECIOUS CHILD.

BUT WHAT I WANT TO DO IN MY RESPONSIBILITY, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR CHILD HAS LIMITED HARM AND WE KNOW WHAT IS THE BEST INFORMATION WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS THAT THE VACCINE IS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE.

>> Jeff: THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF MIXED MESSAGING ON THAT COMING OUT OF THE SECRETARY'S OFFICE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

LARGELY SUPPORTIVE, BUT STILL RAISING ENOUGH DOUBTS FOR PEOPLE TO BE CONCERNED.

THE ANECDOTE YOU SAY IS HAVING A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH A PROVIDER.

>> YES.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR FAMILIES TO BRING UP THEIR CONCERNS TO THEIR PEDIATRICIAN OR TO THEIR PHYSICIAN.

I THINK WHEN WE LIMIT THAT EXCHANGE OF QUESTIONS, WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT EACH SIDE IS THINKING.

AND IT MAKES IT HARDER FOR FAMILIES TO GET THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO MAKE A GOOD DECISION.

>> Jeff: THAT IS INTERESTING.

IF YOU ARE IN CLINIC WITH SOMEONE AND A PARENT RAISES THAT CONCERN IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU WILL NOT QUICKLY DISMISS IT.

YOU WANT TO SPEND SOMETIME ON IT.

>> I RESPECT FAMILIES WHO WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THEIR KIDS.

UNFORTUNATELY SOMETIMES WE GET OUR INFORMATION FROM THE WRONG SOURCES.

I CAN'T TELL YOU THE NUMBER OF TIMES I'VE HAD TO ARGUE WITH Dr. GOOGLE.

BUT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ME THAT MY FAMILIES UNDERSTAND MY SOURCES OF INFORMATION.

AND WHERE THEY CAN FIND GOOD SOURCES OF INFORMATION.

SO THE DON'T HAVE TO JUST DO SOMETHING BECAUSE I TELL THEM TO DO IT.

THAT'S NOT THE KIND OF RELATIONSHIP THAT WE AS A PUBLIC HEALTH STANDPOINT SHOULD HAVE WITH THE PUBLIC.

>> Jeff: MEASLES SHOT IS THE MMR SHOT.

>> YES.

>> Jeff: I ACTUALLY GOT IT THIS IS MAYBE FIVE YEARS AGO THERE WAS SOME DEGREE OF MEASLES OUTBREAK IN THE BALTIMORE AREA AND I WAS UNSURE OF MY HISTORY.

MY INTERNIST SAID THERE IS A BLOOD TEST WE'RE CHECKING YOUR CHOLESTEROL WE'LL CHECK IF YOU ARE IMMUNE TO THE MEASLES AND I WAS NOT.

SO I DID THE SHOT AT MY ADVANCED AGE AND IT WAS FINE.

BUT DOES IT MAKE SENSE FOR ADULTS TO CHECK?

OR ONLY IN THE SETTING OF A CONFIRMED OUTBREAK?

>> IN GENERAL, WE DO HAVE A SMALL POCKET OF TIME WHERE THE TYPE OF MEASLES VACCINE THAT WE HAD DIDN'T CONFER LIFELONG IMMUNITY LIKE OUR CURRENT VACCINE DOES.

SO BETWEEN 1963-1967, THAT WE DO HAVE THIS GAP IN COVERAGE IF YOU WERE VACCINATED IN THAT TIME.

>> Jeff: THAT WAS ME.

THE GAP IN COVERAGE.

IF A YOUNG CHILD COMES DOWN WITH THE MEASLES, FIRST HOW DO THEY GET IT?

AND WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

>> UNFORTUNATELY MEASLES IS VERY CONTAGIOUS.

IN THE HOSPITAL SETTING, OR HEALTHCARE SETTING IN GENERAL, IF WE DO HAVE A PATIENT WITH MEASLES, WE CONSIDER THAT AREA CONTAMINATED FOR TWO HOURS.

EVEN AFTER THAT PATIENT HAS LEFT.

BECAUSE IT'S SO CONTAGIOUS AND ALSO BECAUSE THE SYMPTOMS DON'T PRESENT QUICKLY IT TAKES ABOUT A WEEK OR TWO FOR PEOPLE TO GET SICK.

A LOT OF TIMES WE SPREAD IT UNKNOWINGLY, MUCH MORE THAN OTHER ILLNESSES THAT WE MIGHT.

>> Jeff: IS THERE A TREATMENT OR IT'S RELIEF OF SYMPTOMS IS WHAT YOU CONCENTRATE ON?

>> IT'S REALLY ABOUT TREATING THE SYMPTOMS.

THAT'S WHY WE REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON THE PREVENTION.

COMPLICATIONS OF MEASLES ARE SERIOUS.

AND UNFORTUNATELY MORE COMMON ESPECIALLY IN CHILDREN THAN OTHER VIRAL ILLNESSES.

>> Jeff: I GET IT CONFUSED WITH CHICKENPOX.

YOU CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE HOW CAN A PARENT TELL?

>> CHICKENPOX IS KIND OF LIKE A LITTLE BLISTER ALMOST AND IT'S ON A RED BASE.

VERY ITCHY.

KIDS ARE MISERABLE FROM IT MORE BECAUSE OF THE RASH AND THEY ARE UNCOMFORTABLE.

MEASLES KIDS ARE SICK THEY ARE MISERABLE THEY HAVE HIGH FEVERS.

THEY DO HAVE A CLASSIC RASH.

WHEN I TEACH MEDICAL STUDENTS AND RESIDENTS WHO HAVE NEVER SEEN MEASLES WE TALK ABOUT HOW IT LOOKS LIKE YOU POURED RED PAINT OVER THEIR HEAD AND THAT RASH STARTS UP ON THE HEAD AND DRIPS DOWN THEIR BODY.

THAT IS THE PROGRESS OF MEASLES.

WHEREAS CHICKENPOX HAPPENS ALL OVER THE PLACE.

THREE SYMPTOMS OF MEASLES ARE COUGH, PINK EYE AND REALLY, REALLY BAD RUNNY NOSE.

THEY ARE MISERABLE KIDS.

>> Jeff: WHEN YOU TALK TO PARENTS ABOUT VACCINES, ARE THERE ANY IN PARTICULAR THAT THEY WORRY ABOUT?

AND MAYBE PUT THE COVID VACCINE IN THAT LIST IS THAT SOMETHING YOU ARE RECOMMENDING?

>> WE DO STILL RECOMMEND THE COVID VACCINE WITH THE FLU VACCINE IN THE FALL.

COD IS A NEWER VACCINE.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE GETTING MORE COMFORTABLE WITH COVID AND SO PEOPLE STILL WONDER ABOUT THE NECESSITY FOR IT.

AGAIN, WHEN PEOPLE -- WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO LIVE IN A COUNTRY WHERE DEATHS FROM INFECTIOUS DISEASE IS MUCH LESS.

SO WORLDWIDE, THERE'S STILL ANNUALLY OVER 100,000 DEATHS FROM MEASLES.

IN THE U.S., IT'S VERY UNUSUAL EVEN TO HAVE ONE DEATH.

SO WHEN WE HAD THE THREE THIS YEAR, IT WAS A BIG DEAL.

BUT WORLDWIDE IT'S STILL A LARGE PROBLEM.

AND WE'RE NOW A GLOBAL COMMUNITY.

WE'RE TRAVELING ALL OVER THE PLACE.

AND SO WHEN WE TRAVEL, WE'RE EXPOSING OURSELVES AND POTENTIALLY BRINGING THAT BACK.

>> Jeff: WHEN KIDS HAVE THEIR BACK TO SCHOOL CHECKUPS, YOU WANT THIS ON THE LIST?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Jeff: VERY GOOD.

Dr. ESTHER KIM LIU CHIEF OF PEDIATRICS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE WASHINGN MEDICAL CENTER.

DOCTOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: WE APPRECIATE IT.

AND THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK WE'RE BACK FRIDAY WITH "STATE CIRCLE" AND THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS JOIN US FOR THAT FRIDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M. FOR ALL OF US HERE AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "DIRECT CONNECTION" AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪]