The outbreak of Measles in 2019

The outbreak of Measles in 2019

Measles is an extremely contagious illness that is caused by morbillivirus virus. The disease is either spread when an infected person sneezes or coughs.  Early signs of measles include irritated eyes, cough, high fever, and skin rash. Young children with weak immune systems are prone to suffering from measles. Measles can cause complications such as blindness, ear infections, pneumonia, vision loss, brain swelling(encephalitis), diarrhoea, or death. Although vaccines mitigate the spread of measles, the reported patient of measles in the world has increased in the year 2019.

In the article “Measles explained: What’s behind the recent outbreak,” Leah Selim explains the rose of measles cases in 2019 by 200%. Measles outbreak occurred in the world; some of the countries affected significantly affected by the outbreak include Somalia, Liberia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ukraine, and Madagascar. In the year 2019, reported cases of infected persons in the United States reported was high compared to other years.  Other countries like Europe, Greece, the United Kingdom, and Czechia also report many cases of measles compared to other years. The diseases spread rapidly across borders and ocean because a high percentage of the population requires to be vaccinated to eradicate the spread (Selim, 2019). Other factors that attributed to the range of measles include a high number of traveller and business people. An outbreak of measles took place when the proportion of the population vaccinated is below 95%. Some of the reason which contributes to the drop in vaccination level includes poor health services, civil strife, misinformation, and low awareness.

Measles, respiratory infection, is caused by a virus known as morbillivirus within the family of Paramyxoviridae. Morbillivirus lives in the mucus of the nose and throat of the infected person that is the child or adult. Humans are the only host of measles virus (MV). People with a very high risk of contracting the virus are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated. Children under the age of 5-year, pregnant women, people with compromised immune systems, and adults above 20 years are potential hosts for measles infection (Mizumoto, Kobayashi, & Chowell, 2018). MV can go on infectious in the air for up to two hours after a person infected coughs or sneezes. If people breathe the infected air or come into contact with contaminated surfaces, they become infected. Measles infection is extremely contagious because one infected person can spread it to 90% of the people around. Measles has an incubation span of 10-14 days, after which the infected patients experience fever, cough, and a generalized rash that lasts 5-6 days and spreads in the craniocaudal direction.

Healthcare personal play a critical role during an outbreak of measles. One of the parts for nurses in eradicating the spread of measles includes educating the community and parents on immunization against measles. Parents need to know that measles can be transmitted from one country to another since we have a large number of people travel in and out. Another role of nurses to address the outbreak of measles is discussing the topic deeply with the parents who strongly object to the vaccination (Kim & Choi, 2017). In this century, the is an increasing number of parents who forgo vaccinating their children. Therefore, nurses should outline the risks associated with not vaccinating children against measles. Besides, nurses should prevent measles by promoting measles vaccination and other educational efforts (Lisenby, Patel, & Uichanco, 2019). Measles vaccination is highly effective and is the best way of protecting infants and children below five years against the diseases.

Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine prevent Measles.  The vaccination administered is for control of measles and prevention during an outbreak. One health protection strategy that can be used by nurses to mitigate the outbreak of measles is through vaccination (Watkins, 2013). Herd immunity occurs when a high proportion of the population is immune to the measles infection, primarily through immunization.  There are two doses which are required to ensure full insurance against measles: the initial dose offered at the age of 12 months, and the next one administered at the age of three years and four months. Occupational health service to confirm frontline healthcare staff must have two measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines to ensure satisfactory protection and to prevent onwards transmission to vulnerable patients. However, anyone who misses a dose the missed dose can  at any age, even in adulthood. Individuals who travel to and from the country should be vaccinated. Another strategy that nurses can use to prevent the outbreak of measles is by isolating any suspect with signs and symptoms of measles.

Measles is a contagious illness that spread through coughing, sneezing, or breathing. Human is the only host of measles and has severe complication such as blindness, brain swelling or even death. There is no precise treatment for measles though the virus can be prevented by immunizing children at a young age.  Thus, a nurse has a significant role in protecting children and the community by creating awareness and ensuring everyone receives an MMR vaccine.

References

Kim, K. M., & Choi, J. S. (2017). Measles vaccination status of nurses and associated factors during community measles outbreaks. Japan Journal of Nursing Science, 15(3), 249-257. doi:10.1111/jjns.12194

Lisenby, K. M., Patel, K. N., & Uichanco, M. T. (2019). The Role of Pharmacists in Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy and the Measles Outbreak. Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 231-236. doi:10.1177/0897190019895437

Mizumoto, K., Kobayashi, T., & Chowell, G. (2018). Transmission potential of modified measles during an outbreak, Japan, March‒May 2018. Eurosurveillance, 23-24. doi:10.2807/1560-7917.es.2018.23.24.1800239

Selim, L. (2019, December 5). Measles explained: What’s behind the recent outbreaks? Retrieved from Unicef: https://www.unicef.org/stories/measles-explained-whats-behind-recent-outbreaks

Watkins, J. (2013). Preventing the spread of measles. Practice Nursing, 24(6), 294-296. doi:10.12968/pnur.2013.24.6.294