Measles - The Reemergence and Outbreak

Measles is a very contagious viral disease and has been making a major comeback these past few years in spite of the available safe and effective vaccine for it. This disease spreads rapidly, mainly affecting unvaccinated people, especially young children and individuals with weak immune systems. Although it was thought to be mostly eradicated in many developed countries, measles has returned due to declining vaccination rates and increased vaccine hesitancy. Recent outbreaks in the United States raise the urgent need for awareness about what the disease is, its transmission, and prevention measures needed for measles. Being educated on the rising illness is necessary to detect misinformation and maintain public health safety. 

The measles virus affects mainly the respiratory system, leading to symptoms such as high fever, persistent cough, runny nose, and inflamed eyes. A few days after these first few symptoms appear, small white spots known as Koplik spots begin showing inside the mouth, working as an early indicator of the disease. This is followed by a widespread red rash that starts on the face and gradually spreads to the rest of the body. While many victims recover, harsh complications like pneumonia, encephalitis, and death can occur, especially in young children, pregnant women, and people with compromised immune systems. Additionally, measles makes the immune system weaker by causing "immune amnesia," which basically removes the body's immunity to other infections, making individuals more prone to future illnesses (Science, para. 1). These long-term effects emphasize the need for effective preventive measures to mitigate the disease. 

Measles is known to spread through respiratory droplets in the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, helping the virus stay in the air longer and on surfaces as well for up to two hours. Due to its high level of contagiousness, an unvaccinated person exposed to the virus has about a 90% chance of being infected. The basic reproduction number, R0, for measles, which measures how many people an infected patient can spread the virus to, is between 12 to 18, making it one of the most viral diseases known to mankind (PubMed, para. 1). This means that even one case can lead to major outbreaks if vaccination isn’t fully available. Without proper immunization, measles can spread quickly in schools, daycares, and other public places, being a big threat to communities. 

Recent outbreaks have shown the unfortunate consequences of lowering vaccination rates. For example, in Texas, an outbreak led to 146 cases, as predicted, mainly among unvaccinated citizens, leading to several hospitalizations and the first measles-caused death in the United States since 2015. Health officers have considered misinformation, fear of vaccines, and a lack of access as key reasons for the revival of measles. To prevent similar outbreaks, it is important that at least 95% of the population is vaccinated to secure herd immunity, which helps protect the weaker people who can’t get the vaccine due to medical conditions. Public health strategies should work on stopping misinformation and making vaccines accessible to the entire public. 

The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is the most effective way to prevent measles and its effects. When both recommended doses are implemented, the vaccine works approximately 97% to provide lifelong immunity. Despite the effectiveness, vaccine hesitancy is still a huge issue when it comes to achieving full immunization of the public. Many people are misled by inaccurate information about vaccine safety, contributing to the fear and hesitancy of parents. Education campaigns, stronger healthcare policies, and programs are necessary to stop misinformation and increase vaccination rates. By prioritizing prevention and working on widespread vaccination, the reappearance of measles can be controlled, protecting both weakened individuals and entire communities from this disease.

In conclusion, measles continues to be a serious public health threat due to its high transmissibility and its effects. The virus's ability to weaken the immune system along with its quick spreading in unvaccinated populated areas emphasizes the importance of immunization. Recent outbreaks are a reminder of the problems of declining vaccination rates and the consequences of misinformation. Public health officials and medical professionals must educate the public, solve vaccine hesitancy, and make immunization more accessible. With these hard work and efforts, future measles outbreaks can be prevented and the elimination of measles can become a reality again.

Work Cited 

"Measles and Immune Amnesia." American Society for Microbiology, 2019, https://asm.org/Articles/2019/May/Measles-and-Immune-Amnesia. 

"The Basic Reproduction Number (R0) of Measles: A Systematic Review." PubMed, 2017, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28757186/. 

"Measles Cases and Outbreaks." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024, https://www.cdc.gov/measles/cases-outbreaks.html. 

"Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) Vaccination: What Everyone Should Know." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024, 

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/mmr/public/index.html.