MEASLES

MEASLES. Measles is caused by a virus. It is spread when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or shares food or drinks. The measles virus can travel through the air. This means measles can be caught from someone who has the virus even if that person does not cough or sneeze directly on you.

An infected person can spread the virus to others from four days before the rash starts until four days after the rash appeared. The virus is most often spread when people first get sick, before they know they have it.

A person can get measles only once. Most people born before 1957 have had measles.

A person exposed to measles and who has not had the vaccine may be able to prevent the infection by getting a shot of immunoglobulin (IG) or the measles vaccine as soon as possible. Babies younger than 12 months, pregnant women, and people who have weakened immune systems that can not fight infection may need to get IG if they are exposed to measles. (1)

In 1940 Dubuque residents over the age of ten who had caught measles within the last six months were asked to participate in a measles-prevention program. At the City Health Department in City Hall, a small amount of blood was collected from volunteers who were paid by the State Department of Health. From this blood, a measles serum was produced to ensure a good supply for the eventual epidemic which hit Iowa every three to five years. Such epidemics usually caused an estimated two hundred deaths. (2)

---

Source:

1. "Measles," http://www.webmd.com/children/tc/measles-rubeola-topic-overview

2. "Measles Serum Clinic Slated," Telegraph Herald, January 2, 1940, p. 2