Measles makes a dangerous comeback

Measles. I remember the classes in medical school talking about different childhood diseases which I hoped I would never see. Measles was one of them. We studied about it: symptoms include fever, cough, conjunctivitis, rash and coryza (runny nose). We were tested on it, but thankfully never saw the disease. At one point in America, it was thought to be eradicated. What a great victory for the health of the public. It was one less devastating disease to worry about.

As you have heard in the news, measles has been making a strong comeback. If the virus gets introduced to a region where the people are not vaccinated at a high rate, the virus can take hold and start to spread and sustain itself. That is what we are seeing happening in certain areas of the U.S. The virus is highly transmissible from person to person, with 9 out of 10 people exposed getting sick. The virus can survive in the environment for hours after an infectious person leaves.

If you talk to some of the older people in the area, they may recall having measles. It is highly contagious and you only have to be in the same building to be exposed.

In 1963 there were over half a million reported cases in the U.S. leading to 495 deaths; more than 1,000 infected developed chronic disability from measles.

Pneumonia from measles is the most common cause of death from the disease. Approximately one or two patients will die for every 1,000 infected. Measles can cause encephalitis, or brain inflammation, in one out of every 1,000 who get the disease — which can lead to deafness or loss of intellectual abilities. There is a rare late complication that can occur 7-10 years after the measles that causes a fatal degeneration of the brain.

Although most people are not severely affected by the virus, the effects on some are devastating.

Luckily we have a highly effective vaccine for measles. Children get the first measles shot at 12-15 months and a second vaccine at 4-6 years of age. This gives great protection (97 percent) to the vast majority of children. If you were born after 1957 and do not have a record of having measles, then a blood test can determine if you have been exposed. If you have not, then a single shot will protect you.

I remind myself often that vaccines are the most important tool I have to keep my patients healthy.

Dr. Ken Ripp is a family medicine physician at the Raiter Clinic in Cloquet.