Just like whooping cough, the measles virus is also making a comeback as outbreaks continue to occur all over the world from Australia to California to Nigeria
Photo Credits: IFRC, CDC
Name
Measles
Transmission
- Caused by a virus in the paramyxovirus family, is highly contagious, and is normally passed through direct contact and through the air
- Person-to-person transmission mainly occurs through droplets from the nose, mouth, or throat of infected people as the virus infects the mucous membranes, then spreads throughout the body
- The virus can survive for up to two hours outside the human body (on a contaminated surface or in the air where an infected person coughed or sneezed)
- Not known to occur in animals
Geography
Worldwide
Incubation Period
10 – 14 days after infection
Signs and Symptoms
Phase One
- Fever
- Tiny white spots inside mouth
- Runny nose
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Red eyes
Phase Two
- Rash (usually beginning on the face then spreading across the body)
Diagnosis
- Clinical diagnosis based on visual symptoms
- Blood test for laboratory confirmation
Treatment
- There is no specific treatment for the virus
- Most people recover within 2–3 weeks
- There is a vaccine available to prevent infection (measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine) and it is 93-97% effective
Prognosis
- One of the leading causes of death among young children under the age of 5, children are most at risk
- In malnourished people and those with reduced immunity, it can lead to severe complications including blindness, encephalitis (brain swelling), and pneumonia, among others
Prevention: What Can You Do?
- Get the MMR vaccine and ensure all your children and loved ones are properly vaccinated to protect against this highly contagious virus
- Wash your hands, cover your mouth when you cough, and cover your nose when you sneeze
Measles In the News
- 20 Children Killed By Measles In Lagos State
- Measles Outbreak Leaves 23 Children Dead In Sokoto State
- Why Nigeria was ranked low by WHO for immunization
- California measles outbreak fueled by parents who failed to vaccinate children – study
- Melbourne measles outbreak reaches 21
- Measles: A Major Threat To Nigerian Children
Sources:
http://www.who.int/topics/measles/en/
http://www.cdc.gov/measles/index.html
