Measles Causes Measles Contagious

Measles causes and measles contagious

        The measles virus is extremely contagious and is spread when patients cough or sneeze, by close personal contact or direct contact with nasal or throat secretions. The virus remains active and contagious in the air or on infected surfaces for two hours. The infected can transmit it during the four days preceding the onset of the rash. Outbreaks of measles can lead to epidemics that cause many deaths, especially among young malnourished children. In countries where measles has been largely eliminated, imported cases remain an important source of infection. Measles remains a major cause of death among young children.

• In 2008, there were 164 000 measles deaths worldwide, almost 450 deaths per day or 18 per hour.
• Over 95% of measles deaths occur in low-income countries where health infrastructure is fragile.
• Vaccination is an easy way to prevent suffering, complications and deaths due to measles. The measles vaccine is safe, effective and cheap.
• Vaccination has had a major impact in terms of public health. Measles deaths decreased by 78% between 2000 and 2008 worldwide.

        Measles is a serious viral highly contagious disease . Measles remains a major cause of death among young children. It is estimated that 164 000 people, mostly children under five, died from measles in 2008. Measles is caused by a virus in the paramyxovirus family. The virus normally grows in cells lining the throat and lungs. Measles is a human disease and it is not known to occur in animals. The targeted vaccination campaigns have had a major impact on measles deaths. From 2000 to 2008, an estimated number of 700 million children aged 9 months to 14 years living in countries at risk have been vaccinated. During this period, measles deaths decreased by 78%.