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Six hundred and forty-four cases of measles were reported in the United States (US) last year and already 141 cases in 17 states have been recorded in 2015. Considering the fact that the US was measles-free for 14 years, these numbers are of great concern.
On the lookout for measles
In South Africa the increase has been less alarming; however the 66 cases of measles reported in 2014 and in the first month of 2015 are nevertheless a worrying trend, especially when one considers that there were only six cases reported in our country in 2013.
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases consequently issued an alert in mid-December last year, which warned clinicians to be on the lookout for measles. South Africa’s last measles outbreak occurred from 2009 to 2011, where 18,000 cases were reported in the three-year period.
Read: Measles outbreak hits vulnerable Britain
Dr Pete Vincent of the Netcare Travel Clinics and Medicross Family Medical and Dental Centre points out that the measles starts with a fever, a runny nose, a cough, red eyes, and a sore throat, followed by a rash that spreads over the body. “The measles virus is highly contagious and can remain alive outside of the human body for a few hours. It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus is so contagious that if one person has it, 90% of the people around him or her will also become infected if they have not been protected by a vaccination.”
“Measles is one of the most dangerous of all childhood diseases, as it can lead to encephalitis, pneumonia, croup, lifelong brain damage, deafness and death,” says Dr Vincent. “Babies younger than one year of age, malnourished individuals or people whose immune systems are compromised, are particularly at risk of developing severe complications.”
The only protection against the disease, aside from natural immunity, is the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine, which is almost 100% effective in preventing measles. Dr Vincent notes, “Any traveller or individual who wants to protect themselves or their children should have the vaccine administered. Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk of getting infected when they travel internationally.”
A big health success story
It is especially important that infants who are six months of age and older and will be travelling internationally should be protected against measles by receiving one dose of the MMR vaccine. Infants who get one dose of the MMR vaccine before their first birthday should get two more doses – one dose at 12 through 15 months of age and another dose at least 28 days later.
Children 12 months of age and older should receive two doses of MMR vaccine, separated by at least 28 days. Teenagers and adults who have not yet had the measles should get two doses of the MMR vaccine, separated by at least 28 days.
Read: Vaccines and vaccination
“Vaccines are one of the biggest public health success stories. Because South African immunisation rates are high, many vaccine-preventable diseases don't have the visibility they once had and most parents aren’t aware of just how dangerous these diseases can be.
They also have access to conflicting and often inaccurate information about vaccines, and as a result do not take their children for their shots. The reason for the outbreak spreading so quickly in the US has been largely attributed to this suspicion of vaccinations,” explains Dr Vincent.
“Vaccines cause the occasional mild adverse reaction in some individuals, but they are safe. They also provide protection against some very dangerous diseases – measles being but one. It is vital that children and travellers get vaccinated so that they can be protected against this potentially fatal disease,” concludes Dr Vincent.
Read more:
Vitamins cut measles and diarrhoea deaths
Image: Child with measles from Shtterstock
