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Cause:
Measles virus,
a paramyxovirus, genus Morbillivirus.
Illness and treatment:
Fever up to 105oF for 2-4 days is followed by
cough, conjunctivitis, or runny nose, and a maculopapular
rash moving from the hairline down to cover the entire body.
The rash lasts 5-6 days or longer. Complications including
diarrhea, ear infection, pneumonia, acute encephalitis, and
death are more common among children under 5 and adults over
20 years of age. The case fatality rate in this country is
0.1-0.3%. Treatment is supportive.
Sources:
Humans are the reservoir.
Measles is highly contagious with transmission occurring
primarily through respiratory droplets, though airborne
transmission has been documented in closed areas for up to 2
hours after a person with measles was present.
Additional risks:
Measles in the United States occurs mainly from
international travel to endemic areas, or through contact
with infected international travelers. Transmission within
the United States can occur. Malnutrition increases the risk
of severe complications and death.
Prevention:
Universal immunization prevents infection. Aggressive
follow-up with exposed persons, along with respiratory and
hand hygiene, can prevent further transmission.
Recent Washington trends:
Each year there
are typically fewer than 10 cases reported.
2008:
19 cases were reported; all
were exposed in Washington and were part of an outbreak
associated with a large church event. Of the 18 cases for
whom vaccine was indicated, only one adult had received any
doses of MMR. No school-age cases had received any vaccine.
Purpose of Reporting and
Surveillance
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To identify measles cases
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To prevent the spread of
measles
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To identify groups of
unimmunized children and adults
Legal Reporting Requirements
-
Health care providers:
immediately notifiable to local health jurisdiction
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Hospitals: immediately
notifiable to local health jurisdiction
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Laboratories:
immediately notifiable to local health jurisdiction;
specimen submission required
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Local health
jurisdictions: immediately notifiable to Washington
State Department of Health (DOH) Communicable Disease
Epidemiology Section (CDES)
Last
update
November 2009 |
