When most people think “measles,” they think “spots.” Few realize that measles is actually a highly contagious respiratory virus, also known as rubeola, with symptoms well beyond the distinctive spotted rash.
Richland Public Health warns that symptoms may include fever, runny nose, cough, and “pink eye,” as well as the blotchy red rash.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), measles is the most deadly of all childhood fever/rash illnesses.
“The disease can be transmitted from four days prior to the onset of the rash to four days after the onset. There is no specific treatment for measles. Complications from measles can include pneumonia, encephalitis, convulsions, deafness, mental retardation or even death,” noted Selby Dorgan, Manager of Health Promotion and Education at Richland Public Health in an email interview.
“The virus can easily spread through the air by droplets from the nose or mouth when an infected person coughs or sneezes and can remain active and contagious on infected surfaces for up to two hours,” said Dorgan.
Symptoms may appear in as few as seven days or as many as 18 days after exposure.
The CDC reported a total of 288 cases in 18 states from January 1 to May 23 of this year.
According to the Ohio Department of Health, there are currently 183 cases in Ohio over a six county area. Confirmed cases by county include: Ashland, 36; Coshocton, 13; Holmes, 20; Knox, 111; Richland, 2; and Wayne, 1. Note that these numbers include only confirmed cases and do not include suspected or probable cases. The statistics are updated regularly, and may have increased at the time of publication.
In 2000, the United States achieved measles elimination, defined as interruption of year-round endemic measles transmission. The current outbreak is the largest since that time.
The CDC issued a release dated May 29, 2014, that noted many of the cases affected the unvaccinated Amish community.
The Knox County Health Department issued a release on the same date that stated all of those affected by measles in Knox County were Amish. The report also noted that local Amish residents were very cooperative in the effort to halt the spread of the virus by vaccinating, self-reporting, or staying home if infected. Additionally, it was noted in the report that the current Knox County outbreak stems from unvaccinated travelers who recently returned from the Philippines.
According to the CDC website, in the decade before the measles vaccination program began, an estimated 3–4 million people in the United States were infected each year, of whom 400–500 died, 48,000 were hospitalized, and another 1,000 developed chronic disability from measles encephalitis.
The vaccine is administered in the combination Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine. The vaccine is considered 99 percent effective.
The Ohio Department of Health noted that children should receive the first dose of MMR vaccine at 12-15 months of age and the second dose at 4-6 years of age, or no earlier than 28 days after the first dose. Older children who have not been vaccinated should receive two doses of MMR vaccine at least 28 days apart.
Adults born before 1957 are considered immune. Prior to 1957, most children were exposed to the measles and became actively immune from acquiring the disease, noted Dorgan.
Adults born during or after 1957 should receive at least one dose of the vaccine, according to the Ohio Department of Health. Healthcare workers, as well as those adults traveling abroad, should receive two doses, according to the CDC.
Local health departments have scheduled vaccination clinics. Those times may be found here for Richland County. Other county schedules may be found at the appropriate health department’s website.
