HEALTHY FAMILY
Spotlight: Measles
The return of this
vaccine-preventable virus
A • A non-itchy rash
of red bumps or
blisters on the skin,
commonly but not
exclusively on the
palms of hands and
soles of feet
• A sore throat
• Sores on the tongue,
gums, inside of
cheeks and in the
back of the mouth
• Irritability 26 WashingtonFAMILY JUNE 2019
disease with few complications. Yet,
according to the CDC, measles can com-
monly bring on ear infections and diarrhea,
which can lead to big problems for small
children. Further, one in 20 children
with measles will contract pneumonia,
and one in 1,000 will develop encephali-
tis. One or two in 1,000 children who get
measles will die from it.

People who are not vaccinated or have
not received two doses of vaccine, those
with compromised immune systems and
pregnant women are most vulnerable,
and children under 5 or adults over 20
Spotting the problem
Measles is spread by contact with infected are more likely to suffer complications
drops of mucus from coughing and sneez- from measles.

ing or from touching contaminated surfaces
and then touching the mouth, nose or eyes. If you suspect exposure
The virus can even linger in the air for up to Healthy people who have received two doses
two hours after an infected person has been of the MMR vaccine are already protected
coughing or sneezing.

from measles. But if you may have been
It usually starts with an acute respi- exposed to measles and you have not been
ratory illness, with two to four days of vaccinated, or are not sure if you’ve received
fever over 101, cough, runny nose and two doses of the MMR vaccine, call your
watery or red eyes. The telltale spots doctor right away.

usually follow those earlier symptoms
Do not go in to your doctor’s office or a
as a flat, red rash that typically develops walk-in clinic without first calling and let-
about eight to 12 days after exposure, ting them know you may have been exposed
starting on the face and then spreading to measles — you could risk the health and
elsewhere on the body. Symptoms most safety of everyone in the office. Your doctor
often develop within 10 to 14 days after will be able to advise you on what to do next.

exposure (though they could be as early The local health department may be able to
as seven days or as late as 21).

arrange for you to have testing at home. You
A person with measles is extremely con- may need additional vaccine administration
tagious from four days before to four days or immunoglobulin, a medication that can
after the rash first appears. The CDC notes help strengthen your body’s natural defenses
that if one person has measles, up to 90 per- for fighting infection.

cent of people who come close to that person
will contract the disease if they have not Not up to date on
established immunity.

immunizations? Consult your doctor if you or your
child are not vaccinated or have not yet com-
No small threat
People might not fear contracting mea- pleted the two-dose schedule. There are also
sles because they haven’t personally seen vaccine resources available through the Mary-
it pose danger in their lifetime. Thanks land Department of Health. They’ve even hosted
to the tremendous success of the mea- some pop-up free clinics in high-risk areas to
sles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, some distribute immunizations to those in need.

The CDC’s immunization recommendations
people assume that it’s no longer a threat
or that even if contracted, it’s a mild say that children should get a first dose at age
cross the nation, at least 20 states
have reported measles cases this
spring in a widespread and some-
what unexpected outbreak, according to the
Centers for Disease Control. This spring, the
Maryland Department of Health confirmed a
third measles case in the Pikesville area, and
DMV parents started taking notice, too. In
2000, measles had been declared eliminated
in the U.S. due to the effectiveness of rou-
tine immunizations, so why has this disease
returned? IMGORTHAND/E+/GETTY IMAGES
Symptoms may
include: BY COURTNEY MCGEE