Spread of measles from one person to the other is simply through the air, which makes it a highly contagious disease. If an affected person is present in a particular place, and they eventually leave, the measles virus can last up to two hours in the area. Symptoms of measles can take up to 21 days to surface.

From time to time, the measles outbreak has been reported in various regions. For instance, on March 19, 2019, exposure to the virus was reported in Macomb, Michigan, in the United States. An affected person accessed the Bank of America at around noon. People who consequently visited the bank from then up to around 2 p.m. were in due course infected.

What are the symptoms of measles?

After infection, symptoms may take from 9 up to 21 days to show. The common and easily noticeable symptoms include fever-like signs such as Conjunctivitis, cough, and coryza.

Other symptoms include:

  • Reddish brown rashes on the skin

  • Frequent sneezing

  • Watery eyes

  • Oversensitivity to light

  • Pains in various parts of the body

  • Greyish-white spots in the mouth

  • Rise in temperature especially in children reaching up to 39o C

It is usually recommended that if you notice these signs and they persist, you should seek advice from a medical officer. Seeing a doctor is essential even though not all rashes indicate measles.

Measles might lead to several complications, including an eye problem known as Squint, Hepatitis which affects the liver, brain inflammation condition referred to as Encephalitis and thrombocytopenia, which causes low platelet count.

The best cure to measles is prevention usually done through vaccination.

Who should be vaccinated?

Typically, everyone from children to adults is eligible for vaccination. However, the procedure is usually administered to children aged one to six years to enhance safety. But if one misses the vaccination procedure at a tender age, they can be vaccinated later at an appropriate time.

The vaccination is administered in two doses, initial dose for children between 12 and 15 months. The second dose is upon attainment of four to six years. Situations such as travels outside the country might necessitate for vaccination of children even below 12 months.

The vaccination process is essential, especially if you currently live in Macomb. Besides the 12 months children, any adult between 18 and 62 years should seek vaccination if they did not get one when they were young.

Why is it important to vaccinate children?

Infections in areas such as Macomb, which is one of the fastest growing municipality in the United States, could be risky more so, to children. Vaccination is, therefore, essential to ensure the welfare of the children and the entire community. Eventually, the procedure prevents death, which might have been caused by the disease.

Affected children might get adverse complications such as pneumonia, ear infection, or brain infection. A child under five years might have a lowly developed immune system, and these conditions might be fatal. It is, therefore, essential to vaccinate children to safeguard their well-being.

Failure to get vaccinated is not only a threat to the Macomb MI community but also to the rest of the counties in the United States. Measles is highly contagious, and anyone traveling to or from the place might easily carry the virus with them and infect people in other regions. Parents must ensure that their children are vaccinated all year round.