Measles: One of the Most Contagious Viruses on Earth

Imagine a disease so contagious that even if one person in the room is infected everyone is at risk of being sick. Measles might look like just a childhood illness at first glance but its actually one of the most contagious diseases ever discovered and can be very dangerous. If a person infected with Measles walks into a room, the virus can float in the air up to 2 hours after they leave which means you can get infected by walking into a room long after the sick person has left. Measles can cause serious health problems and even death. Even though all these complications can be prevented by vaccine, Measles still is a public health concern and outbreaks happen.

Measles, also called rubeola, is a viral infection caused by morbillivirus and infects the respiratory system. In early stage the symptoms resemble a cold, making it hard to recognize Measles right away. But about 14 days after infection a characteristic red rash starts appearing on the face and later spreading across the body. This rash is a clear symptom of the illness that makes it easier to identify Measles. While most people recover without serious health problems, some people especially young children or people with a weak immune system can face risks like Pneumonia and Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).

One of the most prominent and interesting effect of Measles is "immune amnesia" which means the virus destroys a portion of the immune systems memory cells. These cells normally remember past infections and provide immunity. However people who get immune amnesia temporarily lose immunity to diseases they've been vaccinated against or had before.

Before the Measles vaccine was invented in 1963, the virus infected almost every child and outbreaks were much more common. In fact, they caused 2-3 million deaths every year. The discovery of the vaccine changed this outlook a lot and Measles was announced eliminated in several countries. The MMR vaccine (measles, mumps. rubella) remains the most effective method for preventing Measles in our day. Two doses provide 97% protection and reduces the risk of having more serious health problems.

Although Measles is preventable, misinformation about vaccines, uneven access to healthcare and international travels makes it remain a global problem. Understanding and researching about Measles helps us appreciate how far medical science has come and spreads awarness of how vaccination is important.