Measles is rare in the US, but as cases continue to rise in rural West Texas, Americans are more concerned about the preventable virus.
An unvaccinated child died this week in the West Texas outbreak. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the last confirmed measles death occurred in the United States in 2015.
There are nine cases of measles in eastern New Mexico, but the state health department said it has no direct connection to the Texas outbreak. Here’s what you need to know about measles and how to protect yourself.
What is measles?
This is a respiratory disease caused by one of the most infectious viruses in the world. The virus is in the air and can easily spread when an infected person breathes, sneezes, or coughs. It most commonly affects children.
“On average, one infected person can infect the other 15,” said Scott Weaver, director of Excellence for the United Nations Global Virus Network. “There are only a few viruses that approach it.”
Measles first infects the airways and then spreads throughout the body, causing high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes and rashes. The rash generally appears 3-5 days after the initial symptoms, starting as a flat red spot on the face and spreads below the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. If a rash appears, the fever can skyrocket or higher than 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the CDC.
There is no specific treatment for measles, so doctors generally relieve symptoms, prevent complications, and keep patients comfortable. Those who once had measles can’t get it again, health officials say.
Is measles fatal?
Normally you don’t kill people, but you can. Common complications include ear infections and diarrhea. However, about 20% of unvaccinated Americans who have received measles are hospitalized, the CDC said. Pregnant women who have not got the vaccine can give birth prematurely or have low-born babies.
Among children with measles, about one in 20 develops pneumonia, and the CDC suffers from a brain swelling called encephalitis, known as pneumonia, which can lead to convulsions, hearing loss, or intellectual disability.
Weaver, who works at the University of Texas Medical Chapter in Galveston, said it is fatal “mainly in children, mostly in under 1% of children.” “Children develop the most severe illnesses. The cause of death in these types of cases is usually the complications of pneumonia and pneumonia.”
How can I prevent measles?
The best way to avoid measles is to get a measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12-15 months and 4-6 years old.
“Everyone got measles before the vaccine was developed in the 1960s,” Weaver said. “But then, when the vaccine came on, it was a complete game changer and one of the most successful vaccines in medical history.”
He said there is “great data” about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine. “One of these outbreaks we’re seeing can be easily prevented by increasing vaccination rates in our communities,” he said. “If we can maintain 95% of those who have been vaccinated, we don’t intend to see this happen in the future, and we’ve gone far below that level in many parts of the country.”
Vaccination rates have fallen nationwide since the Covid-19 pandemic, with most states below the 95% vaccination threshold for kindergarteners. This is the level necessary to protect the community from the outbreak of measles.
If I received the MMR vaccine a while ago, do I need a booster?
Healthcare professionals may be tested for antibodies to measles and when boosters are administered as needed, Weaver, even if he already had two standard doses for a child. He said people at high risk of infection who took shots years ago might want to consider getting a booster if they live in an outbreak area.
They may include people with measles or families who live with people who are particularly vulnerable to respiratory illnesses due to underlying medical conditions.
“But if you received two doses as a child, I don’t think anyone needs to go to the doctor and get away now,” he said. “If people are just getting standard vaccinations, this won’t happen.”
