Measles

Measles is a contagious disease caused by a virus. It's a contagious illness spread by mucus and saliva. The virus is released into the air when a measles-infected person sneezes or coughs. The measles virus can spread through the air. As a result, anyone in that area could be infected by the virus.

 

It is a highly contagious viral disease that kills young children all over the world. It is especially dangerous for children from low-income families, as it targets malnourished children and those with weakened immune systems. It can lead to blindness, encephalitis, severe diarrhoea, ear infection, and pneumonia, among other serious complications. An established measles infection has no treatment, but over-the-counter fever reducers or vitamin A may help with symptoms.

 

• It is caused by Rubella virus, a member of the paramyxovirus family.

• It is spread by droplets from an infected person's nose, throat, or mouth.

• Respiratory droplets produced by coughing or sneezing spread the disease through the air.

• Prior to the introduction of the measles vaccine in 1963, the disease claimed the lives of over 2 million people each year.

• Despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine, lakhs of children worldwide die each year from measles.

• The majority of the victims are children under the age of five.

• Measles deaths have decreased by about 73 percent globally between 2000 and 2018, thanks to aggressive immunisation campaigns.

 

Symptoms of measles do not appear for 10 to 14 days after exposure. The most common symptom of measles is a rash on the body, but there are a few other symptoms that can help diagnose measles.

The following are symptoms of measles:

• fever

• Coughing fits

• Eyes that are red

• Muscle aches

• A runny nose

• A scratchy throat

• Sores on the inside of the mouth

 

If not treated properly, measles can cause long-term complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis. Other issues that may arise include:

• Bronchitis is a condition that affects the lungs.

• A decrease in platelets in the blood

• Diarrhoea that is severe

• In some cases, blindness

 

A skin rash and other symptoms or characteristics of the disease are examined by a doctor to confirm measles. If the doctor cannot confirm the diagnosis by examining visible symptoms, he or she may recommend a blood test.

 

There is no specific treatment for measles, nor is there antiviral therapy. The virus and symptoms usually go away in two to three weeks, but your doctor may advise you to try the following treatments:

• Immune system-enhancing medications

• Anti-cough and anti-sore throat medications

• Acetaminophen, which is used to treat muscle pain and fever.

• High-vitamin A-fortified foods

• When it comes to children, it is recommended that they be closely monitored by a doctor. Children should be isolated until they have recovered completely.

 

• Because there is no specific treatment for measles, it is recommended that you take all necessary precautions to avoid contracting the disease.

• Children should be immunised within 12 months of birth, with the second dose administered between the ages of 4 and 6.

• MMR (Mumps, Measles, and Rubella) is a vaccine that protects against three diseases: mumps, measles, and rubella.

• It's also critical to treat the disease early on, especially in children.

• Adults can get measles, despite the fact that it's usually associated with children. Those who have not been vaccinated have a higher chance of contracting the disease.

 

• The Measles and Rubella Initiative is a global initiative that aims to eradicate both diseases.

• Measles-rubella (MR), measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), or measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccines are available to prevent the diseases.

 

• Measles and rubella are major public health concerns in India, despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine since the 1960s.

• More than 1.3 million children are infected with measles each year, with around 49000 infected children dying, accounting for nearly 36% of the global figure.

• Rubella infection during pregnancy can result in death or birth defects. It causes birth defects in nearly 40,000 children in the United States each year.

 

• India, along with ten other Southeast Asian WHO member countries, had committed to eradicating measles and controlling CRS by 2023.

• In the health sector, India has achieved significant milestones by eliminating diseases such as polio, smallpox, maternal and neonatal tetanus, and others.

• Even in the case of measles, the death rate has decreased by around 51% from about 100000 deaths in 2000 to 49000 deaths in 2015.

• Despite this, India accounts for one-third of all measles-related deaths worldwide. India ranks fourth out of 194 countries in terms of measles cases.

• Regardless of previous measles/rubella vaccination status or measles/rubella disease status, all children aged 9 months to less than 15 years are given a single MR vaccination shot.

 

 

• The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched the campaign in 2017. It is a large-scale vaccination campaign with the goal of reaching more than 40 crore children.

• The goal of the campaign is to protect kids from the highly contagious viral diseases measles and rubella.

• MR vaccines are available for free in all 50 states.

• Measles kills nearly 49000 Indian children every year. Rubella (Congenital Rubella Syndrome, or CRS) causes blindness and birth defects that are irreversible.

• While there is no treatment for either of these diseases, vaccinations can help to prevent them.

• India is working to eradicate measles and rubella from its population.

• Measles vaccination will reduce mortality among children under the age of five in India.

• Children will receive the vaccine free of charge as part of the campaign.

• This is a massive public health movement that is being carried out by the federal and state governments, local governments, civil society, and the healthcare workforce working together.

• India is also beefing up surveillance for measles and rubella, which is a key takeaway from the country's polio eradication programme, which helped identify infected and vulnerable areas and populations, allowing the programme to implement effective eradication strategies.

• Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), Mission Indradhanush, and Intensified Mission Indradhanush are some of the other initiatives.

 

• The Maldives and Sri Lanka became the first two countries in the World Health Organization's South-East Asian Region (WHO SEAR) to eliminate measles and rubella before the 2023 deadline in July 2020.

• In September 2019, WHO SEAR member countries set 2023 as the deadline for eradicating measles and rubella.

• The announcement came after the SEAR Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination held its fifth meeting.

• The Commission is made up of 11 international experts in epidemiology, virology, and public health who are all independent.

• Bhutan, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and Timor-Leste are among the countries in the region that have eradicated measles.

• Rubella is eradicated in Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Timor-Leste