Who's Afraid Of The Big, Bad Measles, And Why

Measles is one of the most infectious diseases that spreads like wildfire. Recently having started in Disneyland, it has begun its joyride in other areas too. Arizona has joined the list of places harboring the virus outside California. In just one month, 36 have got infected due to exposure at the theme park, including five employees.

Though it had been eliminated in the United States 15 years ago, it seems to be fighting back to enter in the last two years. The latest, traced to Disneyland, has spread far beyond that Orange County theme park, according to latimes.com.

The measles vaccine is safe and does not lead to autism, in spite of doubts in the public, according to today.com. Still, doctors are afraid of measles for the following reasons:

1. It is air-borne: The virus floats and infects everyone around easily. Patients infected with measles are likely to spread the virus for nine days.

"You can infect people 100 feet away," said Kathleen Harriman, Chief of the Vaccine Preventable Disease Epidemiology Section at the California Department of Public Health.

2. Silent spread: People could get infected before they exhibit symptoms, which is a sign of "silent spread". In the case of ebola, the infection can spread even if you sit next to a healthy-looking patient. While they are wrong about ebola, they would be right about measles.

"Measles can be contagious up to four days before people develop the rash that is characteristic," said Harriman.

3. It's a quick catch. Almost 90 percent of people who do not have immunity will get infected if they get exposed to the virus. The vaccine, though, is effective and has reduced measles by 99 percent.

4. It's not harmless: Before the vaccine, as measles spread rapidly, it killed 500 in a year in the U.S. About 48,000 a year were hospitalized and transmitted a "dangerous brain-swelling condition called encephalitis" to 4,000 patients, resulting in the death of 400 to 500.

Even now many children around the world die of measles. In 2013, the World Health Organization says that more than 145,000 people died of measles.

5. It can return and spread fast: About 55,000 Americans got infected with the measles vaccine between 1989 and 1991, killing almost 70. Hence, public health officials recommended two doses of vaccinations instead of just one.

In every few years the virus hits people when it is brought in from other countries. It spreads when it hits a pocket of people who are not vaccinated.

6. Not everyone is immune: Babies aged below one year would be susceptible to it. Others who have received vaccination may be exposed and contract it if they do not have a good immune system.

A person born before 1957 would be immune if they got the infection as children. And the post-1960 people would be vaccinated, yet get the disease if their immunity has declined.

Some Americans do not take the vaccinations, as some patients have some religious reasons, while others fear that it might not work. However, it would be advisable to take a blood test and a booster shot, which is safe and does not cause autism.