MEASLES

A Research Paper
Presented to the
Biology Department
Adventist University of the Philippines

In Partial fulfillment
Of the Requirements for the Course
Microbiology and Parasitology Lecture

Milcah Millenn B. Bartolome

October 18, 2019
 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Measles in the 10th century was described by Muhammad ibn Zakariya ar-Razi (860-

932) or Rhazes – a Persian philosopher and physician, as a disease that is “more dreaded than

smallpox”. “The Book of Smallpox and Measles” was published by him also.

In 1757, Francis Home, a Scottish physician, demonstrated that measles is caused an

agent that is infecting the blood of the patient. In the 9th century, a Persian doctor published

one of the first written accounts of measles disease. In 1912, measles became a nationally

notifiable disease in the United States, requiring U.S. healthcare providers and laboratories to

report all diagnosed cases. In the first decade of reporting, an average of 6,000 measles-related

deaths were reported each year. In the decade before 1963 when a vaccine became available,

nearly all children got measles by the time they were 15 years of age. Is was estimated to have

3 to 4 million people in the United States that were infected by measles. Also, each year, among

reported cases, an estimated 400 to 500 people died, 48,000 were hospitalized, and 1,000

suffered encephalitis (swelling of the brain) from measles Current measles outbreak started late

2017 in Mindanao. In 2018, 20,827 cases were reported with 199 deaths. Outbreak and

supplementary immunization activities in 2018 were ineffective in addressing the outbreak as

the immunization activity was met with increased vaccine hesitancy due to the Dengue vaccine

controversy. Weak routine immunization leading to a decrease in overall immunization

coverage in recent years resulted in large immunity gaps among younger children against

vaccine preventable diseases including measles.

In the decade before the measles vaccine was licensed in 1963, an average of 549,000

measles cases and 495 measles deaths were reported annually in the United States. However,

it is likely that, on average, 3 to 4 million people were infected with measles annually; most

cases were not reported. Of the reported cases, approximately 48,000 people were hospitalized
from measles and 1,000 people developed chronic disability from acute encephalitis caused by

measles annually. It is critical for all international travellers to be protected against measles,

regardless of their destination.

From 1989 to 1991, a major resurgence occurred, affecting primarily unvaccinated pre-

schoolers; this measles resurgence resulted in 55,000 cases and 130 deaths and prompted the

recommendation that the second dose of measles vaccine be given to pre-schoolers in a mass

vaccination campaign that led to the effective elimination in the United States of endemic

transmission of the measles virus.

The largest of these outbreaks involved 21 persons in Minnesota, in a setting where

parental concerns about the safety of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine caused

many children to go unvaccinated. As a result of this outbreak, many persons were exposed,

and at least 7 infants too young to receive MMR vaccine were infected.

From January 1 to May 23, 2014, 288 confirmed cases were reported to the CDC, a

figure that exceeds the highest reported annual total number of cases (220 cases in 2011) since

measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000. In developing countries, measles

affects 30 million children a year and causes 1 million deaths. Measles causes 15,000-60,000

cases of blindness per year.

In 1998, the cases of measles per 100,000 total population reported to the WHO was

1.6 in the Americas, 8.2 in Europe, 11.1 in the Eastern Mediterranean region, 4.2 in South East

Asia, 5.0 in the Western Pacific region, and 61.7 in Africa.

In 2000, measles was declared eliminated from the United States. Elimination is defined

as the absence of endemic measles virus transmission in a defined geographic area, such as a

region or country, for 12 months or longer in the presence of a well-performing surveillance

system. However, measles cases and outbreaks still occur every year in the United States

because measles is still commonly transmitted in many parts of the world, including countries

in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, the Americas, and Africa. Worldwide, an estimated 10

million measles cases and 110,000 deaths from measles are reported each year.

Since 2000, when measles was declared eliminated from the U.S., the annual number

of cases has ranged from a low of 37 in 2004 to a high of 667 in 2014. The 2019 case count

exceeded 2014 levels as of April 26, 2019 and continues to climb. Most cases have been among

people who are not vaccinated against measles. Measles cases in the United States occur as a

result of importations by people who were infected while in other countries and from

transmission that may occur from those importations. Measles is more likely to spread and

cause outbreaks in U.S. communities where groups of people are unvaccinated.

These are the countries measle have visited, including, but not limited to, the

Philippines, Ukraine, Israel, Thailand, Vietnam, England, France, Germany, and India, where

large outbreaks were reported. Outbreaks in countries to which Americans often travel can

directly contribute to an increase in measles cases in the United States. Measles importations

have been rampant this recent year.

According to WHO (2019), In the Philippines, The Department of Health (DOH)

declared measles outbreaks in five regions in the Philippines – Metro Manila (NCR), Central

Luzon (Region 3), CALABARZON (Region 4A), Western Visayas (Region 6), and Central

Visayas (Region 7). Other regions also have rising measles cases and are at risk for possible

outbreaks if the epidemic is not contained. Last year, measles outbreaks were also declared

including in Mindanao (Davao City, Zamboanga City) Metro Manila (Taguig City), and some

areas in Negros Oriental.

 The standing of measles recently is over 12,700 cases and have been officially reported

by DOH with 203 deaths from 1 January to 23 February 2019. Over half of the measles cases

are under 5 years of age, with median age of 2 years old. Of the total measles cases, 63% have

not been vaccinated, 19% have unknown number of doses and 16% have unknown vaccination

status. DOH has reported rising measles since last year with 18,407 cases in 2018 compared to

2,428 cases in 2017 – a nearly 8-fold increase in measles cases.

 SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS AND CAUSES

Measles is caused by the measles virus, a single-stranded, negative-sense, enveloped

RNA virus of the genus Morbillivirus within the family Paramyxoviridae. Measles virus is

mostly seen in the winter and spring. It's spread from one child to another through direct contact

with discharge from the nose and throat. Sometimes, it is spread through airborne droplets

(from a cough or sneeze) from an infected child.

Through sneezing and coughing via close personal contact or direct contact with

secretions, this virus spreads because it is highly contagious. It is really contagious that if one

acquires it, 90% of non-immune people will also acquire it. Humans are the only natural hosts

of the virus, and no other animal reservoirs are known to exist.

Risk factors for measles virus infection include immunodeficiency caused by HIV or

AIDS, immunosuppression following receipt of an organ or a stem cell transplant, alkylating

agents, or corticosteroid therapy, regardless of immunization status; travel to areas where

measles commonly occurs or contact with travelers from such an area; and the loss of passive,

inherited antibodies before the age of routine immunization.

Symptoms typically begin 10–14 days after exposure. The classic symptoms include a

four-day fever (the 4 D's) and the three C's—cough, coryza (head cold, fever, sneezing), and

conjunctivitis (red eyes)—along with a maculopapular rash. Fever is common and typically

lasts for about one week; the fever seen with measles is often as high as 40 °C (104 °F).

Koplik's spots seen inside the mouth are diagnostic for measles but are temporary and

therefore rarely seen. Koplik spots are small white spots that are commonly seen on the inside

of the cheeks opposite the molars. They appear as "grains of salt on a reddish background."

Recognizing these spots before a person reaches their maximum infectiousness can help reduce

the spread of the disease.

 The characteristic measles rash is classically described as a generalized red

maculopapular rash that begins several days after the fever starts. It starts on the back of the

ears and, after a few hours, spreads to the head and neck before spreading to cover most of the

body, often causing itching. The measles rash appears two to four days after the initial

symptoms and lasts for up to eight days. The rash is said to "stain", changing color from red to

dark brown, before disappearing. Overall, measles usually resolves after about three weeks.

Most people recover from measles, but some people develop health complications that

can be serious. Complications occur because the measles virus affects a person’s immune

system, making them more vulnerable to other infections.

Up to one-third of people with measles experience one or more complications and one

in ten people with measles will require hospital treatment. Children under five years old are

more likely to develop complications than adults.

Complications of measles include: Diarrhea, Ear infection, Bronchitis, Laryngitis

(inflammation of the voice box), Pneumonia, Encephalitis (swelling of the brain), Croup

(inflammation of the airway), Pregnancy problems., Bacterial ear infection, which can lead to

hearing loss, is one of the most common complications of measles.

Pneumonia is also a common complication of measles. Left untreated, pneumonia can

result in death. It accounts for almost two-thirds of deaths related to measles.

Encephalitis is a rare but serious complication of measles (approximately 1 in 1000

people with measles). It can lead to permanent brain damage.

Even with treatment, one or two out of 1000 people with measles will die.
 Measles occurring during pregnancy increases the risk of premature labor, miscarriage,

and low-birth-weight infants. Birth defects have not been linked to measles during pregnancy.

Measles can be especially severe in persons with weakened (compromised) immune

systems, such as people with HIV/AIDS and those receiving cancer treatment
 DIAGNOSIS
If you suspect that you have measles or have been exposed to someone with measles,

contact your doctor immediately. They can evaluate you and direct you where to be seen to

determine if you have the infection.

Doctors can confirm measles by examining your skin rash and checking for symptoms that are

characteristic of the disease, such as white spots in the mouth, fever, cough, and sore throat.

If they suspect you may have measles based on your history and observation, your

doctor will order a blood test to check for the measles virus.

Healthcare providers should consider measles in patients presenting with febrile rash

illness and clinically compatible measles symptoms, especially if the person recently traveled

internationally or was exposed to a person with febrile rash illness. Healthcare providers should

report suspected measles cases to their local health department within 24 hours.

Laboratory confirmation is essential for all sporadic measles cases and all outbreaks.

Detection of measles-specific IgM antibody in serum and measles RNA by real-time

polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in a respiratory specimen are the most common methods

for confirming measles infection. Healthcare providers should obtain both a serum sample and

a throat swab (or nasopharyngeal swab) from patients suspected to have measles at first contact

with them. Urine samples may also contain virus, and when feasible to do so, collecting both

respiratory and urine samples can increase the likelihood of detecting measles virus.

Molecular analysis can also be conducted to determine the genotype of the measles

virus. Genotyping is used to map the transmission pathways of measles viruses. The genetic

data can help to link or unlink cases and can suggest a source for imported cases. Genotyping

is the only way to distinguish between wild-type measles virus infection and a rash caused by

a recent measles vaccination.

 CDC recommends that a throat swab specimen and a blood specimen be collected from

all patients with clinical features compatible with measles. When sending specimens for testing

please contact your health department to determine where to submit specimens and how to ship

them.

To send specimens to CDC from within the US, use the CDC Specimen Submission

Form. You must provide Contact name with telephone number and email address, Type of

virus specimen and date collected, Date serum sample collected, MMR vaccination history

[date(s) if known], Clinical signs and symptoms, Patient’s date of birth or age,

Serology (serum samples)

Collect the first (acute-phase) serum sample as soon as possible upon suspicion of

measles disease. If the acute-phase serum sample collected ≤3 days after rash onset is negative,

and the case has a negative (or not done) result for RT-PCR, a second serum sample collected

3–10 days after symptom onset is recommended because, in some cases, the IgM response is

not detectable until 3 days after symptom onset. Store specimens at 4°C and ship on wet ice

packs.

Throat or nasopharyngeal swab samples

Detection of measles RNA and measles virus isolation are most successful when

samples are collected on the first day of rash through the 3 days following onset of rash.

However, virus may still be recovered by cell culture through day 10 following rash onset.

Detection of measles RNA by RT–PCR may be successful as late as 10-14 days post rash onset.

Collect throat or nasopharyngeal swab samples as soon as measles disease is suspected. RT-

PCR has the greatest diagnostic sensitivity when samples are collected at first contact with a

suspected case.
 A commercial product designed for the collection of throat specimens or a flocked

polyester fiber swab can be used. Synthetic swabs are preferred over cotton swabs, which may

contain substances that are inhibitory to enzymes used in RT-PCR. Flocked synthetic swabs

appear to be absorbent and elute samples more efficiently.

Swabs should be placed in 2 ml of standard viral transport medium (VTM) [1]. Allow

the swab to remain in VTM for at least 1 hour (4°C). Ream the swab around the rim of the tube

to retain cells and fluid in the tube. The swab can be broken off and left in the tube or discarded.

Storage and shipment: Following collection, samples should be maintained at 4°C and

shipped on cold packs (4°C) within 24 hours. If there is a delay in shipment, the sample is best

preserved by freezing at −70°C. Frozen samples should be shipped on dry ice.

Processing the swabs within 24 hours of collection will enhance the sensitivity of both the RT-

PCR and virus isolation techniques.

Cell culture medium (minimal essential medium or Hanks’ balanced salt solution) or

other sterile isotonic solution (e.g. phosphate buffered saline) can be used. The presence of

protein, for example 1% bovine albumin, 0.5% gelatin, or 2% serum, stabilizes the virus.

Samples without a source of protein in the medium will lose 90%–99% infectivity within 2

hours at 4°C.

Urine specimens

A minimum volume of 50 ml of urine should be collected in a sterile container and then

processed by centrifuging at 2500 × g for 15 minutes at 4°C. The sediment should be

resuspended in 2 ml of VTM. Storage and Shipment: Store urine sediment in VTM at 4°C and,

if possible, ship on cold packs within 24 hours. The best method for preserving measles virus

in processed (centrifuged) urine is to freeze the sample at −70°C and ship on dry ice
 Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Reverse-transcription

polymerase chain reaction (PCR) evaluation is highly sensitive at visualizing measles virus

RNA in blood, throat, nasopharyngeal, or urine specimens and, where available, can be used

to rapidly confirm the diagnosis of measles.

Chest radiography. If bacterial pneumonia is suspected, perform chest radiography;

the frequent occurrence of measles pneumonia, even in uncomplicated cases, limits the

predictive value of chest radiography for bacterial bronchopneumonia.

Antibody assays. The measles virus sandwich-capture IgM antibody assay, offered

through many local health departments and through the CDC, is the quickest method of

confirming acute measles; laboratories can confirm measles by demonstrating more than a 4-

fold rise in IgG antibodies between acute and convalescent sera, although relying solely on

rising IgG titers for the diagnosis delays treatment considerably.

 MANAGEMENT

Treatment of measles is essentially supportive care.

Hydration. Maintenance of good hydration and replacement of fluids lost through diarrhea or

emesis is a primary concern.

Vitamin A supplementation. Vitamin A supplementation, especially in children and patients

with clinical signs of vitamin A deficiency, should be considered.

Hospitalization. Hospitalization may be indicated for the treatment of measles complications

(e.g., bacterial superinfection, pneumonia, dehydration, croup).

Antibiotic therapy. Secondary infections (e.g., otitis media or bacterial pneumonia) should be

treated with antibiotics; patients with severe complicating infections (eg, encephalomyelitis)

should be admitted for observation and antibiotics, as appropriate to their clinical condition.

Postexposure prophylaxis. Prevention or modification of measles in exposed susceptible

individuals involves the administration of measles virus vaccine or human immunoglobulin

(Ig).

Pharmacologic Therapy

Medications used in the treatment or prevention of measles include vitamin A, antivirals (eg,

ribavirin), measles virus vaccine, and human immunoglobulin (Ig).

Vitamin A. Vitamin A treatment for children with measles in developing countries has been

associated with a marked reduction in morbidity and mortality; thus, two doses of vitamin A

given 24 hours apart are recommended; a third age-specific dose should be given 2 to 4

weeks later to children with clinical signs and symptoms of vitamin A deficiency.
Antivirals. Measles virus is susceptible to ribavirin in vitro; although ribavirin (either IV or

aerosolized) has been used to treat severely affected and immunocompromised adults with

acute measles or SSPE (IV plus intrathecal high-dose interferon alfa), no controlled trials

have been conducted; ribavirin is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration

(FDA) for this indication, and such use should be considered experimental.

Vaccines. The live MMR vaccine is used to induce active immunity against viruses that cause

measles, mumps, and rubella.

Immunoglobulins. Human Ig prevents or modifies measles in susceptible individuals if

administered within 6 days of exposure.

Assessment of the patient with measles include:

Physical exam. Assess the child for symptoms that may indicate the presence of measles.

Knowledge of the disease. Assess the patient’s or significant other’s knowledge regarding the

disease.

Hygienic practices. Assess the family’s hygienic practices to prevent the spread of the

disease.

Interventions for a child with measles are:

Isolation. Patients will need to be on isolation precautions to decrease transmission within the

community; emphasize the need for immediate isolation when early catarrhal symptoms

appear.

Skin care. Measles causes extreme pruritus; nursing interventions include keeping the

patient’s nails short, encourage long pants and sleeves to prevent scratching, keeping skin

moist with health care provider recommended lotions, and avoiding sunlight and heat.
Eye care. Treat conjunctivitis with warm saline when removing eye secretions and encourage

patient not to rub eyes; protect the eyes from the glare of strong light.

Hydration. Encourage oral hydration; medical literature encourages the use of oral

rehydration solution.

Temperature control. Antipyretics should be administered to the patient as ordered for a

temperature greater than 100.4 Fahrenheit unless directed elsewise by a healthcare provider;

be sure to remind parents not to administer aspirin due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome.
 PROGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

The outcome for most cases of measles is excellent. Once the disease passes, the person

will be protected against contracting it again. In cases where there are severe complications,

the chances of long-term problems are less certain and vary on a case-by- case basis.

Complications are rare but may be serious. This is the reason why health care

professionals recommend vaccination.

There is no specific antiviral treatment or cure for measles. Children should stay at

home and out of school until cleared to return by their health care professional. Health

researchers have noticed that some children in underdeveloped countries or those throughout

the globe who develop a severe case of measles have low vitamin A blood levels and seem to

have a reduction of their symptoms if given vitamin A supplementation. Current guidelines are

that all patients with rubeola should start a 2-day course of vitamin A at the time of diagnosis.

Contact a doctor immediately. As soon as you think that you or someone you know

may have measles, make an appointment with your doctor to receive a proper diagnosis.

Describe your symptoms and try to schedule your appointment as soon as possible. Follow any

instructions given by the doctor. Since measles can appear like chicken pox, it's important to

get a definitive diagnosis from your doctor so that proper treatment is given.

Your doctor will likely recommend you stay home and avoid contact with other people.

Measles is very contagious, so isolation is key to preventing an outbreak. Be aware that your

doctor may ask you to take special precautions when you come to the office, like wearing a

mask or using a back entrance, to prevent the spread of measles. In some cases, the doctor may

come out to your car rather than have you come into the office. This is to prevent the spread of

the infection to nurses and patients, particularly those who are pregnant.
 Bring the fever down with over the counter medication. Measles is often accompanied

with a fever that can peak at 104°F (40°C). Use over the counter (OTC) pain relievers like

ibuprofen and acetaminophen (paracetamol) to help keep your temperature at a manageable

level. Follow the directions on the bottle for the correct dosage and timing.

As a bonus, these pain medicines will also help to relieve the aches and pains associated

with the measles virus. Note: Do not give aspirin to children unless instructed to by your doctor,

as a serious but rare condition called Reyes' syndrome can develop.

Rest. Almost everyone who gets measles will require plenty of rest to recover. Measles

is usually a serious viral infection that takes much of your body's energy and resources to fight.

On top of this, the symptoms of measles can leave you feeling more drained and fatigued than

you normally would. Be sure to allow for plenty of sleep and restrict all physical activities

while you are sick.

People who have measles are contagious from 1-2 days before they show symptoms

until about 4 days after symptoms begin. However, the disease incubates for 14 days, so you

may be contagious for that entire time. Since the disease is spread by coughing and sneezing,

it's important you stay home during this time. Plan to rest at home for about a week. It may

take a while for the rash to heal, but you usually aren't contagious after 4 days of symptoms.

Keep the lights dim. The facial rash that causes measles can produce conjunctivitis —a

condition involving inflamed, watery eyes. This can make people with measles sensitive to

light. Use heavy curtains on windows and keep overhead lighting dim when suffering from

conjunctivitis to ease your irritated eyes.

While you won't generally want to leave your house when you have measles, if, for

some reason, you are forced to, try using a pair of shades to protect your eyes.
 Keep the eyes clean with gentle cotton swabs. As noted above, the eye condition

conjunctivitis often accompanies measles. One of the most noticeable symptoms of

conjunctivitis is an increased production of discharge in the eyes. This discharge can cause the

eyes to become "crusty" or even stuck shut (especially after sleeping.) Remove the crustiness

from the eyes by dipping a cotton ball in clean, warm water and wiping from the corner of the

eye outward. Use a separate piece of cotton for each eye.

Conjunctivitis can be very serious, so it's best to prevent it. Maintain good hygiene to

prevent the spread of germs to the eyes. If you're caring for a child who has measles, keep their

hands washed and put gloves on their hands to decrease the likelihood that they'll scratch their

rash then put their hands to their eyes. Press very gently when you are cleaning your eyes—

since your eyes are already inflamed, they will be extra-sensitive to pain and damage.

As much as possible, you must avoid touching your genital area. Once measles spread

into your genital area, there will be a possibility that you'll have UTI. The measles infection

can spread to your genitals and cause, as well as other complications. Make sure you have

washed and cleanse your hands before wiping your genital area. If you're caring for a child

with measles, make sure they don't touch their private parts.

Run a humidifier. Humidifiers increase the amount of moisture in the air by evaporating

water to create vapor. Running a humidifier in the room with you while you are sick will keep

the air moist, which can help soothe the sore throat and cough that accompany the measles

virus.

If a humidifier is not available, just place a large bowl of water in the room to increase the

ambient humidity. Note that some humidifiers allow you to add a medicated inhalant to the

water vapor. If your humidifier lets you do this, pick a cough suppressant, like Vick's.
 Hydrate. Like many illnesses, measles drains your body's supply of moisture faster than

it normally would deplete, especially if you have a fever. For this reason, it' very important to

stay well-hydrated to keep the body strong enough to fight the infection until you feel better.

As a rule, clear fluids, especially clean, clear water, are best for sick people.

Although complications are rare, one should contact a physician if symptoms worsen

or do not resolve, or if there is confusion or change in the level of consciousness. Shortness of

breath, a cough that produces sputum, and/or chest pain may be symptoms of pneumonia.

Doctors must report all cases of rubeola and rubella to the local public health department. This

allows close monitoring, which is necessary to track new cases and enables the U.S. Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to have up-to-date statistics for both local regions

and the entire United States

 EPIDIOMOLOGY AND PREVENTION

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory infection that's caused by a virus that infects only

humans. It is transmitted by respiratory droplets and direct contact with nasal or throat

secretions of infected persons.

The incubation period of measles ranges between 7 and 18 days and patients are infectious

from about 4 days before developing the rash until 4 days after rash. The illness is presented

by high fever, generalized rash, and cough, coryza (runny nose) or conjunctivitis (red eyes).

Complications of measles include viral and bacterial pneumonias and severe diarrhea. The

disease can also lead to lifelong disabilities including brain damage, blindness and deafness.

Measles kills more children than any other vaccine-preventable disease. Before the widespread

use of vaccine, 90% of children had contracted measles by the age of 10 years. An effective

vaccine has been available since the 1960s, and all countries offer measles-containing vaccine

(MCV) in their immunization programs.

Measles is highly transmissible; almost all non-immune children contract measles if exposed

to infection. Poorly nourished children and those whose immune systems have been weakened

by HIV/AIDS or other diseases are severely at high risk of developing measles complication

and death.

Measles occurs worldwide and it is still a significant cause of childhood morbidity and

mortality despite the existence of effective vaccine. Measles infection has its greatest incidence

in children below 2 years of age in the developing countries.

There a few ways to prevent becoming ill with measles.

Vaccination

Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent measles. Two doses of the measles vaccine are

97 percent Trusted Source effective at preventing measles infection.

There are two vaccines available — the MMR vaccine and the MMRV vaccine. The MMR

vaccine is a three-in-one vaccination that can protect you from measles, mumps, and rubella.

The MMRV vaccine protects against the same infections as the MMR vaccine and also includes

protection against chickenpox.

Children can receive their first vaccination at 12 months, or sooner if traveling internationally,

and their second dose between the ages of 4 and 6. Adults who have never received an

immunization can request the vaccine from their doctor.

Some groups shouldn’t receive a vaccination against measles.

These groups include:

People who’ve had a previous life-threatening reaction to the measles vaccine or its

components pregnant women, immunocompromised individuals, which can include people

with HIV or AIDS, people undergoing cancer treatment, or people on medications that suppress

the immune system

Side effects to vaccination are typically mild and disappear in a few days. They can include

things like fever and mild rash. In rare cases, the vaccine has been linked to low platelet count

or seizures. Most children and adults who receive a measles vaccine don’t experience side

effects.

Some believe that the measles vaccine can cause autism in children. As a result, an intense

amount of study has been devoted to this topic over many years. This research has found that

there is no link Trusted Source between vaccines and autism.

Vaccination is very important to your family. There’s what we call herd community. Where

when you are vaccinated, you protect people who haven’t had any vaccines. There’s a least

possibility that virus will spread within the community. To achieve herd immunity against

measles, approximately 96 percent Trusted Source of the population must be vaccinated.

Not everyone can receive the measles vaccination. But there are other ways that you can help

to prevent the spread of measles.

If you’re susceptible to infection:

Practice goo hand hygiene in which you wash your hand before eating your meals and after

you touch anything.

Do not ever share any personal items to people you know who is sick. This include the common

things you have in your house like toothbrush, eating utensils, drinking glasses, etc.

If you’re sick with measles:

You must stay away from school or any public places and just stay at home until you can say

that you are free of measles is not contagious anymore.

You must stay away from people who are susceptible to being infected like the infant,

immunodeficient, and people who haven’t had measles vaccine.

When there is an urge to cough or sneeze, cover your mouth. You have to throw away all tissues

that have been used. Dispose is properly. If there’s not tissue available, make use of the crook

of your elbow and not into your hand. Be sure to practice proper handwashing and proper way

of disinfecting whatever thing or surfaces you touch frequently.

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