Public Health Alert – Measles
Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus. Measles starts with a fever. Soon after, it causes a cough, runny nose, and red eyes. Then a rash of tiny red spots breaks out. It starts at the head and spread to the rest of the body. Measles can be serious for young children. It can lead to pneumonia, encephalitis (swelling of the brain), and death.
How is Measles Spread?
Measles spread through the air when an infested person coughs or sneezes. It is so contagious that if one person has it, 90% of the people around him or her will also become infected if they are not protected.
Why get vaccinated?
Measles, mumps and rubella are serious diseases. Before vaccines they were common, especially among children.
Measles – the measles virus causes rash, cough, runny nose, eye irritation and fever. It can lead to ear infection, pneumonia, seizures (jerking and staring), brain damage and death.
Mumps – Mumps virus causes fever, headache, muscle pain, loss of appetite, and swollen glands. It can lead to deafness, meningitis, painful swelling of the testicles or ovaries, and sometimes sterility.
Rubella (German Measles) – Rubella virus causes rash, arthritis (mostly in women), and mild fever. If a woman gets rubella while she is pregnant, she could have a miscarriage or her baby could be born with serious birth defects.
These diseases spread from person to person through the air. You can easily catch them by being around someone who is already infected. Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine can protect children (and adults) from all three of these diseases. It is free, safe and it works.
Who should get MMR vaccine?
Children should get 2 doses of MMR vaccine:
First dose: 12-15 months of age
Second dose: 4-6 years of age (may be given earlier, if at least 28 days after the 1st dose).
Traveling - Infants younger than 12 months should get a dose of MMR if they are travelling out of the country. (This dose will not count towards their routine series.)
Adults – Some adults should also get MMR vaccine: generally anyone born after 1956 should get at least one dose of MMR vaccine, unless they can show that they have either been vaccinated or have had all three diseases. MMR vaccine can be given at the same time as other vaccines.
Who should not get MMR vaccine?
Anyone who has ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to the antibiotic ‘neomycin’, or any other component of MMR vaccine, should not get the vaccine. Tell your doctor if you have any severe allergies.
Anyone who had a life-threatening allergic reaction to a previous dose of MMR or MMRV vaccine should not get another dose.
Some people who are sick at the time the shot is scheduled may be advised to wait until they recover before getting MMR vaccine.
Pregnant women should not get MMR vaccine. Pregnant women who need the vaccine should wait until after giving birth. Women should avoid getting pregnant for 4 weeks after vaccination with MMR vaccine.
The health tips on this website are for informational purposes only, and they are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice.
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References
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines//ypd-vac/measles/downloads/dis-measles-color-office-pdf
http://www.gov/features/measles/
http://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/BrowseByTopic/Pages/Topic-aspk?=Measles%20informationByTopic-%22Measles%22
http://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/eRepository/Measles_Update_for_Clinicians_February_3_2015_pdf
