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