Measles
Measles is an ancient disease, first described in the ninth century and became widespread 500 years later. But thanks to an effective vaccine developed in the 1960s, it is not a disease we usually encounter in the United States. And that is good because measles can be very serious. Unfortunately, due to outbreaks elsewhere in the world and lack of vaccination here in the U.S., there have already been 15 states with measles cases in 2024, and Colorado had a case in December of 2023.
Measles is both very contagious and very preventable. It is passed between people through breathing, sneezing, and coughing. Unlike most viral illnesses, infectious droplets can remain in the air for two hours after an infected person leaves the area.
Infection with measles can cause fever, rash, pneumonia, brain swelling that can cause deafness, and death. For people who are not vaccinated against measles, one in every five who become infected will be hospitalized. There is no antiviral treatment for measles.
Measles vaccines are part of the MMR combination vaccine which includes measles, mumps, and rubella. Typically, it is first given between the ages of 12 and 15 months, and again between four and six years old, and is very effective, preventing 96% of infections when children have received both vaccines.
Worldwide, measles caused 136,000 deaths in 2022, with most of those in unvaccinated young children.
Sometimes effective vaccines do their job too well and we lose our concern about serious diseases because we don’t see them anymore. Hopefully, it won’t take an outbreak to remind us that measles can be a fatal disease in children and that it can be prevented with two doses of vaccine.
For more information about measles, check out CDC.gov/measles or healthychildren.org, “How to protect your children during a measles outbreak”.
You can make an appointment for your child to be seen at the Southern Ute Health Center to get a measles vaccine that is due or talk about anything else by calling 970-563-4581.