Measles

Source: TOI

Context: The United States is witnessing its worst measles outbreak since 1992, with over 1,300 cases across 39 states due to falling immunisation rates and vaccine misinformation.

About Measles:

• What Is Measles?

• Measles is a highly contagious viral disease caused by the Measles morbillivirus, primarily affecting children. Declared eliminated in the US in 2000, it has resurged due to vaccine hesitancy and misinformation.

• Measles is a highly contagious viral disease caused by the Measles morbillivirus, primarily affecting children.

• Declared eliminated in the US in 2000, it has resurged due to vaccine hesitancy and misinformation.

• Key Symptoms:

• Early Signs: High fever, persistent cough, runny nose, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). Characteristic Rash: Begins on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. Progression: Symptoms appear 7–14 days after exposure; contagious 4 days before and after rash onset.

• Early Signs: High fever, persistent cough, runny nose, and conjunctivitis (red eyes).

• Characteristic Rash: Begins on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.

• Progression: Symptoms appear 7–14 days after exposure; contagious 4 days before and after rash onset.

• Complications of Measles:

• Pneumonia and encephalitis (brain swelling) in young children. Long-term issues like deafness, blindness, and loss of immune memory. Increased risk for malnourished, unvaccinated, or pregnant women. Can cause premature birth or stillbirth during pregnancy.

• Pneumonia and encephalitis (brain swelling) in young children.

• Long-term issues like deafness, blindness, and loss of immune memory.

• Increased risk for malnourished, unvaccinated, or pregnant women.

• Can cause premature birth or stillbirth during pregnancy.

• Measles Spreads:

• Airborne Transmission: Spreads through coughing, sneezing, and respiratory droplets. The virus remains in the air or on surfaces for up to 2 hours. Extremely infectious: 90% of exposed unvaccinated people get infected.

• Airborne Transmission: Spreads through coughing, sneezing, and respiratory droplets.

• The virus remains in the air or on surfaces for up to 2 hours.

• Extremely infectious: 90% of exposed unvaccinated people get infected.

• Prevention and Vaccination Strategy:

• MMR Vaccine: Two doses recommended — at 12–15 months and again at 4–6 years. Early vaccination for infants (from 6 months) during outbreaks or international travel. Herd immunity threshold: Requires 95% vaccine coverage; current US rate is 92.7%.

• MMR Vaccine: Two doses recommended — at 12–15 months and again at 4–6 years.

• Early vaccination for infants (from 6 months) during outbreaks or international travel.

• Herd immunity threshold: Requires 95% vaccine coverage; current US rate is 92.7%.