Measles

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Measles
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What is Measles

• Measles is a highly contagious and acute viral
  disease.
• Happens very infrequent to people who have
  adequate immunizations.
• Humans are the only natural host for the virus
• Measles is also called rubeola
• Measles is very rare in United States because of
  immunization programs.

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What causes Measles

• Measles is caused by paramyxovirus, this group of
  viruses causes respiratory infections.

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Signs and Symptoms

• Fever, cough, runny nose, and red watery eyes.
• You can see Koplik spots or small red spots in
  the mouth.
• Rash starting from hairline spreading downward on
  body.
• Diarrhea or ear infection may occur
• Complications may end up serious causing
  pneumonia, brain inflammation, convulsions,
  deafness, or mental retardation.

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Incubation/Contagious Period

• The incubation periods last about 8 to 12 days
  from exposure to measles.
• Measles is contagious from the 1st or 2nd days
  before first signs appear until four days after
  the appearance of the rash.
• You would definitely exclude the student from any
  group settings since measles is highly contagious.

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How to control it

• MMR vaccines
• During an outbreak exclude children until they
  get immunized or until after the 4 days from the
  after the appearance of the rash
• Hand washing and routine infection control
  measures

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Role of Teacher

• Report the child to the school nurse or
  administrators, if no school nurse is available.
• Also report the infection to health department to
  help control the disease from spreading
  throughout the school.

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Statistics

• The practice of administering 2 doses of
  live-attenuated measles vaccine to children to
  prevent school outbreaks of measles was
  implemented when the vaccine was first licensed
  in 1963. The immunization program resulted in a
  decrease of more than 99 in reported
  incidence. The last major US outbreak (1989-1991) 
  affected more than 55,000 Americans and resulted
  in 123 deaths. However, 30 million cases are
  reported worldwide annually. (WHO, 2006) 
• Louisiana has under 90 MMR coverage, which means
  pockets of children and adults are unprotected.