This past December at Disneyland in California a person with measles infected several other visitors. So far, there have been 67 cases of measles across the United States related to this exposure. And, according to recent media reports, officials in Arizona are tracking more than 1,000 people who may have been exposed to measles as part of the outbreak. There have been no recent reported cases on campus of measles, or people exposed to the recent California outbreak.
Measles is a highly contagious, acute viral illness that is transmitted by contact with an infected person through coughing or sneezing. The virus remains viable for up to two hours on surfaces and in the air, so places where a contagious person has been can also be infectious. Unvaccinated or under- vaccinated persons can become infected. A person is contagious four days before until approximately 2-4 days after the measles rash appears. To help prevent transmission of measles, and other illnesses, people should not share utensils, drinking glasses, etc.
Measles can cause severe health complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis and death. Before there was a vaccine available for measles, approximately 6,000 deaths a year in the United States were attributed to the disease. Measles starts with a fever, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes, and white spots inside the mouth (Koplick Spots) and symptoms last 2-4 days prior to developing a rash, generally starting on the head, neck and behind the ears. The rash then spreads to the rest of the body and persists for 3-5 days.Ìý
You can protect yourself from measles by being fully immunized (although the vaccine is not 100 percent effective throughout a lifetime). The CDC recommends that all U.S. residents ages 12 months and older be vaccinated with the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine:
- Children 12 months of age or older should have documentation of 2 doses of MMR vaccine (separated by at least 28 days).
- Teenagers and young adults without evidence of measles immunity should have documentation of 2 appropriately spaced doses of MMR vaccine.
- Adults born after 1957 without documentation of measles immunity should have at least one dose of MMR vaccine.Ìý
The incubation period for measles from exposure to fever is usually 10 days (range of 7-12 days) and from exposure to rash onset usually 14 days (range 7 to 21 days). If you believe that you have come into contact with someone with measles in the past 21 days and have fever, cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis, Koplick Spots in the mouth or rash call your health care provider right away. They will give you instructions on how to seek treatment while limiting your exposure to others.
There is no cure for the measles. Supportive care, such as IV fluids for dehydration, medication for fever and treatment of more severe symtpoms such as encephalitis requires hospitalization. If you do not have severe symptoms you can stay home and away from the public until 4 days after the rash first appeared. Self isolation is the most important measure for limiting the spread to others. If measles infection is suspected a public health offical will contact you immediately.Ìý
For more information about measles and the recent outbreak, you can contact The Boulder County Public Department, Communicable Disease Division at 303-413-7500, or go to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment .
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Donald A. Misch, M.D.
Senior Assistant Vice Chancellor for Health and Wellness