Measles is a respiratory illness brought on by a extremely contagious virus that is extra infectious than influenza, chickenpox or COVID-19.
Measles diseases are typically delicate, however the severity can vary from ear infections and pneumonia to swelling of the mind referred to as encephalitis — which may result in convulsions, deafness or mental incapacity. In a single case in Ontario in 2024, measles led to the death of a child underneath age 5.
“I am involved in that the general vaccination protection is far decrease in Canada than is required to cease measles in its tracks,” mentioned Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public well being officer.
Measles symptoms include:
- Fever.
- Cough.
- Crimson, watery eyes.
- Runny nostril.
- Koplik spots — small, white spots that happen on the within of the cheeks.
- A rash that normally begins as flat, red spots on the face and spreads to the trunk, legs and arms.
The virus that causes measles spreads via the air and by contact with respiratory secretions from the nostril and mouth.
Droplets containing the measles virus can keep within the air for a number of hours, and the virus stays infectious on contaminated surfaces for up to two hours.
This is what public well being medical doctors say about stopping measles.
Why does measles unfold so simply?
Contagiousness units measles other than different infectious ailments.
A single particular person “contaminated by measles can infect nine out of 10 of their unvaccinated shut contacts,” based on the World Well being Group. “It may be transmitted by an contaminated particular person from 4 days previous to the onset of the rash to 4 days after the rash erupts.”
There is no particular remedy for measles. Docs work to alleviate signs, forestall issues and preserve sufferers comfy.
Who’s liable to measles?
“All individuals who haven’t had a earlier measles an infection or who haven’t had two doses of a measles-containing vaccine are at risk of measles an infection,” based on the Public Well being Company of Canada’s web site.
When unprotected infants and youngsters do catch measles, they face a spread of attainable well being impacts.
Amongst two-year-olds, protection for one dose of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine decreased from 89.5 per cent in 2019 to 82.5 per cent in 2023, researchers from the Public Health Agency of Canada reported. It additionally fell amongst seven-year-olds.
“Vaccination can forestall not solely measles infections, but in addition the actually essential issues that may come up from measles an infection,” mentioned Dr. Sarah Wilson, a doctor with Public Well being Ontario.
The MMR vaccine has been round for many years.
“The main risk [for infection] is vaccination standing,” mentioned Dr. Ninh Tran, medical officer of well being for Southwestern Public Well being, which incorporates Oxford County, Elgin County and St. Thomas in Ontario.
The Canadian Immunization Information recommends two doses for susceptible groups, comparable to health-care employees and navy personnel.
A dose can also be instructed for susceptible travellers born earlier than 1970 who’re heading to locations exterior of Canada, based on the Nationwide Advisory Committee on Immunization.
Earlier than measles vaccines got here on the scene, most individuals caught the illness. That is why most adults born earlier than 1970 are presumed to have acquired immunity from previous publicity.
There are early alerts that measles — one of many world’s most contagious however preventable ailments — could also be spreading in components of Canada. Andrew Chang breaks down the best way the virus assaults the physique and what makes it so contagious.
Vaccination is such an efficient software that measles has been considered eliminated in Canada since 1998, that means travel-related circumstances occur often. If native transmission of measles happens for a yr, Canada dangers shedding elimination standing.
Individuals who have had measles as soon as cannot get it once more, well being officers say.
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