Measles
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Measles is a respiratory disease caused by a virus. It is a highly contagious disease, but cases of it in the United States and other countries with high vaccination rates are rare.

Measles are found worldwide, but are more prominent in countries with low vaccination rates, such as India and some countries in Africa. In the United States, cases of measles are rare and generally originate outside of the country.

The symptoms of measles include: full body rash, fever, cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis, general discomfort and tiny white spots with bluish-white centers in the mouth.
 

Measles is highly contagious and spreads through the air via coughing, sneezing or breathing. The virus can live on surfaces for up to two hours and can sometimes float in the air and infect others for about an hour after a person with measles leaves the room. It is so contagious that someone who is exposed to the disease and does not have immunity will most likely become infected. 

Vaccination is the single most effective prevention method against measles. In the United States, and other developed countries around the world, most children are vaccinated against the disease by the age of 18 months through the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. To avoid getting measles, anyone who has not received vaccination against the disease should do so as soon as possible.

The initial symptoms of measles can occur between seven and 14 days after exposure.

There is no specific treatment for measles, other than rest. Complications from measles can develop, such as pneumonia, ear infections, bronchitis, encephalitis, sinusitis and bronchitis. Death from the disease is rare.

For more information online, you can visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/measles/index.html.

Or, for more information on the Health Department’s programs, please call 859.341.4264.