[11]
Let's Talk About Measles
Measles is one of the leading causes of death amongst young children (despite there being a perfectly safe vaccine) with 122,000 deaths caused by the disease in 2012 alone (according to the WHO, that’s equal to 330 deaths a day, or 14 per hour, mostly children under the age of 5). [22] Thanks to vaccination, there was a 78% drop in measles-related deaths from 2000-2012 [8], but this is much less when focused on impoverished countries.
Measles is an incredibly dangerous and contagious viral disease causing about 2.6 million deaths a year (before widespread vaccination in 1980) [13]. The signs and symptoms usually include a high fever (10-12 days after infection lasting 4-7 days), runny nose, cough, other flu-like symptoms, and small white spots inside the cheek. A rash usually erupts after a few days spreading from the face and neck to the hands and feet. While the rash fades after about 5-6 days, the deaths are caused by various complications from the disease [13]. Complications are more common in the very young (or adults over 20 years old) and include encephalitis (brain-swelling), blindness, dehydration, and severe respiratory infections. 10% of all measles cases result in death, especially in populations with malnutrition and limited access to proper health care. [13]
Measles is an incredibly dangerous and contagious viral disease causing about 2.6 million deaths a year (before widespread vaccination in 1980) [13]. The signs and symptoms usually include a high fever (10-12 days after infection lasting 4-7 days), runny nose, cough, other flu-like symptoms, and small white spots inside the cheek. A rash usually erupts after a few days spreading from the face and neck to the hands and feet. While the rash fades after about 5-6 days, the deaths are caused by various complications from the disease [13]. Complications are more common in the very young (or adults over 20 years old) and include encephalitis (brain-swelling), blindness, dehydration, and severe respiratory infections. 10% of all measles cases result in death, especially in populations with malnutrition and limited access to proper health care. [13]
Who Can Get Measles and How?
Anyone who has never had contact with the disease either by infection or inoculation is at risk, with young children being at the highest risk of infection and the complications that accompany it. Measles is still common in many developing countries such as parts of Africa (like Chad) and Asia. Outbreaks are, sadly, especially common in countries recovering from disasters (natural or otherwise). Conflict, interruptions to immunization and health services, and overcrowding can greatly increase the risk of outbreak. [13]
Coughing, sneezing, and any sort of personal or direct contact is the perfect way to spread Measles. The virus itself can remain active and contagious for up to two hours airborne or on surfaces. Signs and symptoms don’t have to be present at the time to be contagious. [13]
Coughing, sneezing, and any sort of personal or direct contact is the perfect way to spread Measles. The virus itself can remain active and contagious for up to two hours airborne or on surfaces. Signs and symptoms don’t have to be present at the time to be contagious. [13]
How Can We Treat and Prevent Measles?
There is no specific treatment or antiviral for measles. Besides good nutrition, adequate fluid intake and hydration, there’s not much else to do besides replace fluids lost to diarrhea and vomiting. Children prone to malnutrition should be dosed twice a day with vitamin A supplements to help prevent eyesight damage (Vitamin A supplements have been proven to reduce deaths by almost 50%). [12]
The best way to prevent measles is routine vaccination and massive immunization campaigns for countries with high death rates from measles. It costs less than one US dollar per child for immunization, according to the WHO. [12]
The vaccine itself is often combined with rubella and/or mumps (known as the MMR vaccine), but is just as effective in either combined or singular form. [12]
The best way to prevent measles is routine vaccination and massive immunization campaigns for countries with high death rates from measles. It costs less than one US dollar per child for immunization, according to the WHO. [12]
The vaccine itself is often combined with rubella and/or mumps (known as the MMR vaccine), but is just as effective in either combined or singular form. [12]