Measles is an acute, highly contagious respiratory viral illness that has the potential to lead to major epidemics and severe complications. Measles can cause pneumonia, brain inflammation, ear infections, severe dehydration and death. It is transmitted by airborne droplets or via direct contact with secretions from the nose, mouth, and throat of the infected person. The measles virus can live for up to two hours on a surface or in air space where the infected person has coughed or sneezed (1). Airborne precautions or isolation is necessary to prevent transmission of the virus (1).
The incubation period for measles is 7 – 21 days from exposure to onset of symptoms. The symptoms of measles infection include fever, rash, cough, runny nose and red watery eyes. A rash will appear 2 – 4 days after the onset of the illness. A person is infectious 4 days before and 4 days after the onset of the rash (1).
In addition, to the risk to health and life for the individual who gets measles, even a suspected case of measles poses a social and economic hardship because of the need for isolation of the affected individual and quarantine of those with whom there has been even minor social contact. Quarantine refers to the isolation of those who may be at risk through exposure but who are not currently showing signs of illness. Quarantine for up to 3 weeks can be required to contain the spread of the disease.
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