Measles

A study showed nearly 12 per cent of children in India who are eligible for measles vaccination have received none of the recommended double-dose.

About Measles:

• Measles, also known as rubeola or morbilli, is an acute viral respiratory illness.
• The pathogen causing measles is the measles virus, which is a single-stranded, enveloped RNA virus belonging to the paramyxovirus family.

Cause

• Caused by a virus in the paramyxovirus family, specifically infecting the respiratory system.

Hosts

• Humans are the only natural hosts of the measles virus.

Symptoms

• Common symptoms include high fever, dry cough, runny nose, sore throat, coryza, and conjunctivitis (inflamed eyes).
• Appearance of a skin rash and tiny white spots with bluish-white centers on the inside of the cheek, known as Koplik’s spots.
• Measles signs and symptoms appear around 10 to 14 days after exposure to the virus.

Transmission

• Measles is spread by coughing and sneezing, close personal contact, or direct contact with infected nasal or throat secretions.

Treatment

• No specific antiviral treatment exists for measles.

Prevention

• The Measles Rubella (MR) vaccine is part of India’s Universal Immunization Programme since 2017.

Vaccination is crucial as measles can be serious and even fatal, particularly in small children.

Ref: Source