Recent Episodes
It's Back - the Measles!
For more than two decades, measles had been eliminated in the US. Now conspiracy theories and misinformation are causing a comeback. Part of why this is such a big problem is that measles is among the most contagious viruses known. If an infected child walks into a classroom with ten unvaccinated kids, nine of them will get it.
Measles infects the respiratory tract and is spread by coughs, sneezes, and even breathing! It spreads through the body causing fevers, a runny nose, coughs, pink eye, tiny white spots in the mouth and a rash that starts in the face and spreads through the body. Complications include blindness, encephalitis which is a brain infection that can cause brain damage and death, severe diarrhea, ear infections and deafness, and severe breathing problems.
There’s no cure, but there is a very safe and effective vaccine called the MMR for Measles, Mumps and Rubella and the MMRV vaccine that also protects against chickenpox. One dose is ninety three percent effective and ninety seven percent after a second dose. The MMR vaccine and other vaccines cannot cause autism.
Before the vaccine, measles outbreaks occurred every two to three years killing more than 2.5 million people a year. To prevent an epidemic, 95 percent of the community needs to be vaccinated. But parts of the US have fallen below that. In 2019, nearly 1,300 people in 31 states were infected. We can choose not to move backwards. Get vaccinated.
More Information
History of Measles
In the 9th century, a Persian doctor published one of the first written accounts of measles disease. Widespread use of measles vaccine drastically reduced the disease rates in the 20th century. The United States has maintained measles elimination status for over 20 years.
Measles: What You Should Know
Stories about measles have saturated our public and private space, dominating news media and social outlets and sparking lively water cooler discussions. In a sea of information from various sources — some of them reliable, some of them less so — many parents seek a better understanding of the disease and vaccinations. Johns Hopkins infectious disease experts provide answers to some common questions.
Measles Making a Comeback
Numbers have shown Measles making a comeback in the United States. Despite, being declared eradicated in 2000 by the CDC. This can be due to a few primary causes.
