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MEASLES...really?
Yep.
Let's go over some basics and vaccination recommendations.
Measles is a HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS respiratory disease caused by a virus. It's also known as rubeola. It spreads easily through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
1/10
>95% immunity is needed to prevent outbreaks because one person can infect 12-18 others!
The virus can remain airborne well after an infected person has left the area.
Pre-vaccination basically everyone got infected...and some had serious complications.
2/10
Symptoms start nonspecifically
High fever (38.3°C or higher) and
cough, runny nose
Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
THEN:
Red, blotchy rash on face/head that spreads down the body
(and Koplik spots - white spots in mouth - may also occur)
3/10
What happens to people?
It's miserable and many (10-40%) need hospital care.
Can see complications:
Ear infections
Pneumonia - especially in adults
Encephalitis (brain inflammation), which can cause seizures, deafness, or brain damage.
In rare cases, death (1/1000)
4/10
People at high risk of bad outcomes:
Kids under 1 (vaccination usually is at 12 months and then 18 months or 4 years)
Children under 5 years old (most worldwide deaths)
Adults
Pregnant individuals
People with weakened immune systems (especially transplant, leukemia)
5/10
Measles has NO specific treatment - but may need fluids, pain medications, oxygen.
As many as 1 in 4 cases need hospitalization for care and number of cases North American outbreaks range: 10s-1000.
Undernourished kids may benefit from vitamin A supplements.
6/10
Measles control:
Public health measures to limit spread:
Contact tracing, assessing exposed people for vaccine or immunoglobulins and/or quarantine, isolation of infected individuals
- Unvaccinated babies, pregnant and immunocompromised people are at high risk
7/10
THE MEASLES VACCINE
Good news: this is one of our most long-lasting vaccines after 2 doses!
SO If you have had 2 doses at any time you are considered protected - or if prior infection
(not rcommended for some immunocompromised or pregnant people though)
8/10
Vaccination with MMR
Kids/youth: 2 doses!
Adults born in 1970+ from 1 dose era - Alberta now recommends 2 doses (but some places give second dose for higher risk like travel, health care workers)
Born 60s and earlier: likely immune but 1 dose for higher risk areas
9/10
So:
Measles can be a big deal, most recover but bad outcomes happen and it still kills people - mostly kids- every year.
People may be blasé about this because the vaccine, which is safe, HAS worked well.
For most, two doses and you are good (prior exposures matter)
10/10
